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/ 

A HISTORY 



UNITED STATES 

In Chronological Okder 

Prom the Discovery ol" America in 

1492 TO THE YEAR 1885, 

[NCLUDING NOTICES OF MANUFACTURES AS THEY 
WERE INTRODUCED; OF OTHER INDUSTRIES; OF 
RAILROADS, CANALS, TELEGRAPHS, AND 
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ; OF IN- 
VENTIONS, IMPORTANT 
EVENTS, ETC. 



"t-. 



BY / 

EMERY E. CHILDS, 



NEW YORK. 

No. 116 William Street. 
1885. 




7\'^'^ 



t 



CS2 



copykiqht, 1885, 
By EMEEY E. CHILDS. 



M. H. GREEN, 

PRINTER, KLECTROTYPER AND BINDER, 

324-330 Pearl Street, 



NEW YORK. 



^ 

\<i'^ 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



1492 Christopher Columbus, in the service of Ferdinand and Isa- 
bella, King and Queen of Spain, sailed from Palos with the de- 
sign of finding a passage to Asia by the western ocean. On the 
12th of October he discovered one of the West India islands, 
which he named San Salvador. Continuing his voyage he saw 
several islands, and touched at three of the largest of them, 
which he named St. Mary of the Conception, Fernandina, and 
Isabella. On the 27th of October he discovered the island of 
Cuba, where he remained more than a month. Sailing from 
Cuba on the 5th of December, he arrived the next day at 
an island called by the natives Hayti, which he named Hispa- 
uiola. Here he erected a fort, and, leaving it in charge of three 
of his officers and thirty-eight men, prepared to return to Spain. 
Having the opinion that these islands belonged to the regions of 
Asia comprehended under the name of India, he gave them 
the name of the West Indies. 

1493 On the 25th of September Columbus sailed from Cadiz on 
his second voyage to the New World. He discovered numerous 
other islands, and in December laid the foundation of a town 
on the island of Hayti, which, in honor of the queen, he named 
Isabella. 

1494 On the 5th of May Columbus discovered the island of 
Jamaica. 

1496 While Columbus was successfully establishing the founda- 
tions of Spanish power in the New World, his enemies were 
assiduously laboring to deprive him of his merited honor and 
emoluments. Resolved to return to Spain to vindicate himself 
from those false charges which had been made against him to 
the Spanish Court, he intnisted the government of the islands 
to his brother, and on the 10th of March set sail for Spain. 
After his departure his brother removed the colony from Isa- 
bella to the south part of the island, and began a settlement 
there, which he named Santo Domingo. 

The discoveries of Columbus excited great attention in Eng- 
land, and John Cabot sought and obtained a commission from 
King Henry VII. , for himself and his three sons, to prosecute 
discoveries in the New World, and to occupy and possess such 
places as they could subdue. 



2 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

1497 In May John Cabot and his son Sebastian, with three hun- 
dred men and two vessels, commonced their voyage. On the 
34th of June they discovered land, which is supposed to have 
been a part of Labrador, and soon afterwards returned to Eng- 
land. 

1498 Sebastian Cabot sailed from England on another voyage of 
discovery. He tirst saw land at some point north of Newfound- 
land, and thence coasted along the shores of the continent in a 
southerly direction as far as, or near to, Albemarle Sound, 
whence he returned to England. 

Columbus sailed on his third voyage, and on the 3tst of 
July discovered an island which he named Trinidad. On the 
next day he first saw the southern continent. 

1499 Alonzo de Ojeda sailed from Spain on the 20th of May, on 
a voyage of discovery, and ranged the coasts of South and 
Central America a considerable distance beyond where Colum- 
bus had voyaged. Accompanying this expedition was Amerigo 
Vespucci, a Florentine, eminently skilled in all the sciences per- 
taining to navigation. By the publication of his account of the 
voyage it is supposed that his name came to be given to the 
New World. 

1500 Gaspar de Cortereal, a Portuguese, explored several hundred 
miles of the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

1508 Thomas Aubert made a voyage from Dieppe to Newfound- 
land, and, proceeding thence to the river St. Lawrence, was 
the first to sail up that river to Canada. On his return he car- 
ried to Paris some of the natives. 

1512 Up to this time the explorations of the Spaniards had been 
confined to the West India islands and the coasts and islands 
of Southern and Central America. On the 2d of April of this 
year Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the North American con- 
tinent, in 30 degrees 8 minutes north latitude, to which he gave 
the name of Florida. The Spaniards claimed Florida from 
this discovery, and the English the whole continent from the 
prior discoveries of the Cabots. 

1524 John de Verazzano, on a voyage of discovery in the service 
of Francis I., King of France, coasted along the shores of 
North America between the 28th and 50th degrees of north lati- 
tude, and called the country New France. 

1535 Jacques Cartier, under a commission from the King of 
France, entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence upon the day of that 
saint, from which circumstance the name was given to'it. Pro- 
ceeding thence into the great river emptying into the gulf, he 
ascended and explored it for three hundred leagues, and, tak 
ing possession of the country in the name of his king, called it 
New France. He gave the name of Montreal to a large Indian 
settlement which he visited. 

By this time the Spaniards had discovered and conquered 
Mexico, Peru, and other southern countries. 

1537 California was discovered by the Spaniards under Cortez. 

1639 Ferdinand de Soto, Governor of Cuba, sailed on an expedi- 
tion to Florida, to explore the country and conquer the natives. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 3 

1541 Ferdiniind de Soto, having spent nearly two years in his 
wanderings in the wilderness, encountering many hardships 
and disasters, arrived on the tirst of May on the banks of the 
Mississippi, near the site of the present city of Memphis, and 
was the first discoverer of that great river. 

1582 A considerable number of French Protestants, in an expedi- 
tion under the command of John Ribault, commenced a settle- 
ment on the island of Port Royal, in the present State of South 
Carolina, but their supplies being reduced, they were forced 
to abandon the country. 

1561 A French expedition, under the command of Rene Laudou- 
ni^re, arrived in Florida on the 35th of June, and built a fort 
at the mouth of the river St. John's, which they called Fort 
Caroline. This fort was captured by the Spaniards in the 
following year, and nearly all the French were massacred. 

1565 Don Pedro Melendez was sent by the King of Spain to di'ive 
out the French from Florida. He arrived there in August, 
and on the 8th of Se]5tember commenced to lay the foundation 
of a town, which he named St. Augustine, from having seen 
land on the anniversary of that saint. This is the oldest town 
in the United States. 

John Ribault sailed on a second voyage, to found a colony 
of French Protestants in America. Arriving off the coast of 
Florida, his vessels were wrecked on the rocks, and himself and 
liis men were massacred by the Spaniards. 

1568 Dominique de Gourges. commanding an expedition of three 
ships, sailed from France for Florida to take revenge against 
tlie Spaniards for the massacre of his countrymen. He arrived 
tlierein April, assaulted and took the Spanish forts, and mur- 
dered large numbers of the garrisons. 

1580 New Mexico was discovered by Augustiu Ruys, a Spanish 
missionar}'. 

1584 An English expedition, sailing under a patent granted to Sir 
^Yalter Raleigh by Queen Elizabeth, visited the southern parts 
of North America, north of the Spanish possessions. Upon the 
retvu'n home of the adventurers the queen gave to the country 
they had explored the name of Virginia. 

1585 Sir Walter Raleigh sent another expedition to America, and 
planted the first English colony in the Western World. The 
settlement was made in Carolina, on the island of Roanoke, but 
it was abandoned the next year. 

1587 Raleigh again attempted to found a colony in America. He 
sent out one hundred and fifty men and women in three vessels, 
with a governor and council for the government of the colony; 
and the company arrived on the coast of North Carolina in 
July. On the 18th of August a daughter of the governor gave 
birth to a child, which was the first English child born in 
America. This colony had but a short existence, and what 
became the fate of the colonists was never known. 

1602 Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and other places on the New 
England coast were explored by an English expedition under 
the command of Bartholomew Gosnold. 



4 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

1606 King James of England granted patents to twp corporations 
to colonize that part of America which lies between the 34th 
and 45th degrees of north latitude. The southern half of that 
territory he granted to the London Company; the northern, to 
the Plymouth Company. The supreme government of the 
colonies that were to be settled, was vested in a council resi- 
dent in England, to be named by the king, according to such 
laws and ordinances as should be given under his sign-man- 
ual; and the subordinate jurisdiction was committed to a 
council resident in America, which was also to be nominated 
by the king and to act conformably to his instructions. 

1607 The first permanent English settlement in America was this 
year established in Virginia by the London Company, and in 
honor of the king was named Jamestown. 

The Plymouth Company sent out a small colony, which 
commenced a settlement at the mouth of the Kennebec River. 
The settlers, however, abandoned the country in the following 
year and returned to England. 
1609 Hendrick Hudson, in the service of the East India Company 
of Holland, sailing on an expedition to discover a Avestern 
passage to the East Indies, discovered and entered the river 
which bears his name. The next year the Dutch sent six ships 
to trade with the natives occupying the shores of that river. 

In September, Jamestown contained between fifty and sixt}- 
houses. In that place and the surrounding country there were 
about five hundred colonists, who were v^ell supplied with 
tools, arms, and ammunition. They commenced the manufac- 
ture of glass, so as to furnish beads and other trinkets for traffic 
with the Indians. 

1611 The French under Champlain explored the country south of 
Montreal, and discovered the lake which now bears his name. 

1612 The first bricks manufactured in America were made by the 
Virginia colonists. 

1614 The Dutch built a fort on the extremity of the island where 
the city of New York now stands, and another at or near the 
site of the present city of Albany, and called their possessions 
in America New Netherlands. 

Captain John Smith of Virginia ranged the coasts from 
Cape Cod to the Penobscot, and gave to that part of the coun- 
try the name of New England. 

1616 Tobacco about this time began toHbe cultivated in Virginia 
by the English. 

1618 A number of Danes emigrated to this country about this 
time, and made a settlement at the mouth of the Hudson River, 
to which they gave the name of Bergen. This was the first 
settlement in New Jersey. 

1619 The people in Virginia were now so numerous that they 
established a provincial assembly. 

Thomas Dormer, who had been sent out from England, on a 
fishing voyage coasted from Kennebec to Virginia, sailing be- 
tween the main-land and Long Island, and was the first person 
who ascertained that to be an island. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 5 

1620 The first permanent settlement in New England was com- 
menced this year. A large number of the English Congrega- 
tion at Leyden, formed of Puritans who had been driven out 
of England by persecution, sailed from Holland in July to 
found a community in America. After a long and boisterous 
voyage, they anchored in the harbor of Cape Cod on the 11th 
of November. Before landing, all the men signed an instru- 
ment, by which they combined themselves into a body-politic, 
to be governed by the will of the majority, thereby establishing 
a republican form of government — the first of its kind formed 
in America. This contract was signed by forty-one men, who 
with their families constituted one hundred and one persons — 
the whole colony that arrived in New England. After explor- 
ing the coast, they agreed upon a place of settlement, and landed, 
on the 33d of December, on the rock which posterity has marked 
in commemoration of the Pilgrims. To this settlement thej" 
gave the name of Plymouth, in memory of the hospitalities 
which the company had received at the English port where 
they stopped on their passage over from Holland. 

Ninety young women were sent from England to Virginia 
by the London Company, and a price was fixed for each, as a 
charge for their transportation, of one hundred and twcaity 
pounds of tobacco, to be paid by the person taking any one of 
them for a wife. Sixty more were sent over in the next year. 

The first negro slaves imported into the country were landed 
at Jamestown from a Dutch vessel and sold. 

1621 Fifty -five thousand pounds of tobacco were exported from 
Virginia this year. 

1623 The first settlements in New Hampshire were made at this 
rime, at several places on the Piscataqua River, under a patent 
granted John Mason and others. 

The Dutch commenced laying out a town on Manhattan 
Island, to which they gave the name of New Amsterdam ; 
and the building of a fort on the Delaware River, which thej^ 
called Fort Nassau. 

1624 Dissensions among the members of the London Company, 
and other reasons, led the king to seek a dissolution of its 
charter. Legal proceedings were therefore instituted to that 
end, and the charter was declared vacated and the Company 
dissolved. 

1625 Three ships and a yacht arrived at Manhattan Island from 
Holland, bringing a number of settlers, and one hundred head 
of cattle. 

1626 On the 4th of May Peter Minuit arrived at Manhattan, in 
the capacity of Director-General of New Netherlands. He or- 
ganized a provisional government, and purchased Manhattan 
island from the Indians. 

1627 The use of wampum as a currency was introduced by the 
Plymouth colonists. 

A company was formed in Sweden to encourage colonization 
in America; and a number of Swedes and Finns were sent over. 
They first landed at Cape Henlopen, and some time after pur- 



6 HISTORY OF THE UXITEl) STATES. 

chased from the natives tlievland from that cape to the Falls 
of Delaware, and obtained peaceable possession. 

The colonists of Plymouth purchased from the Plymouth 
Company all the lands and inlerests of that corporation in 
America for £1800, in nine equal annual payments. 

1628 The foundation of the colony of Massachusetts was laid this 
year. The Council for New England on the 19th of March 
sold to six gentlemen, residents of Dorchester in England, a 
belt of land stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, extend 
ing three miles south of the river Charles and the Massachusetts 
Bay, and three miles north of every part of the Mei-rimac River. 
A few people under the government of John Endicot were 
tirst sent over to prepare for settling a colonj'. Endicot on his 
arrival laid the foundation of Salem, the first permanent toMii 
in Massachusetts. ♦ 

1629 The Massachusetts Company on the 4th of March obtained a 
charter from King Charles L , by which the company was in- 
corporated by the name of " The Governor and Company of 
the Massachusetts Bay in New England ;" to have perpetual 
succession ; empowered to elect forever out of the freemen of 
the company a governor, deputy governor, and eighteen assist- 
ants, to be newly cho.sen on the last Wednesday in Easter term 
yearly, by a majority of the company ; and to make laAvs nol 
repugnant to those of England. The company soon after 
met in London and settled a form of government for the 
new colony, and elected John Endicot governor for the first 
year. It was also agreed that every member who had ad- 
vanced £50 should have two hundred acres of land assigneil 
him, and that fifty acres apiece should be allowed the colonists 
\\ ho emigrated at their own charge. Several persons of con- 
siderable importance in England joined the company, who, 
for the unmolested enjoyment of their religion, resolved to re- 
move to Massachusetts. In May, three ships sailed from the 
Isle of Wight, canying about two hundred persons; and in 
June arrived at Salem. Some of the colonists being dissatisfied 
v.ith that place, removed and laid the foundation of a town, 
which they named Charlestown. They laid out the town in 
two-acre lots, one of which was assigned to each inhabitant. 
The people at Salem commenced at once the manufacture of 
brick, and built the first brick-kiln established in New England. 

To encourage the co-operation of capitalists in the settlemenl 
of. New Netherlands, the Dutch West India Company offered 
to any of its members who should plant a colony of fifty adults 
in any part of New Netherlands, excepting on Manhattan 
Island, certain exclusive privileges, coupled with certain condi- 
tions, and he should be acknowledged as the feudal chief or 
patroon of such colony. 

John Mason procured a new patent, which granted to him 
the territorj'^ between the Merrimac and Piscataqua rivers, which 
tract was afterward called New Hampshire. 

1630 The Massachusetts Colony was augmented by the arrival of 
large numbers of colonists, many of whom were of consid- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 7 

erable standing. Settlements were now made at and named 
Boston, Watertown, Dorchester, and Roxburj'. On the 23d 
day of August the lirst court of assistants met since the arrival 
of the colonists, and voted that houses should be built, and sala 
ries raised for the ministers at the common charge. 

1631 The settlement of Portsmouth in New Hampshire, and of 
Xewtown, afterward called Cambridge, in Massachusetts, was 
commenced . 

The Earl of Warwick having in the year before obtained a 
grant of the tract of land since formed into and known as 
the Connecticut Colony, assigned it over on the 19th of March 
to Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brooke, John Hampden, and 
others. 

1632 The erection of the first church in Boston was com- 
menced . 

King Charles I. granted a patent to Lord Baltimore of the 
tract of land in America bounded by the ocean, the fortieth 
degree of latitude, the meridian of the western head of the Po- 
tomac, the river itself from its source to its mouth, and a line 
drawn due east from Watkins Point to the Atlantic, and gave 
that territory the name of Maryland, in honor of the queen. 

1633 A few emigrants from the Plymouth Colony made a settle- 
ment on the Connecticut River, at the place since called Wind- 
sor. Upon ascending the river their passage was unsuccess- 
fully opposed by the Dutch, who had established a fort on the 
site of the present city of Hartford. At Windsor the settlers 
immediately commenced the erection of a house from materials 
brought with them from Plymouth. This was the first house 
built in Connecticut. 

The first church on Manhattan Island was erected this year, 
on the site of the present Pearl Street, between Broad and 
Whitehall streets. 

1634 The first market, tavern, and store established in Boston 
were set up this year. 

The custom of preaching election-day sermons, which pre- 
vailed in New England more than two hundred years, started, 
and continued, upon the commencement of the practice by the 
Rev. Mr. Cotton in Massachusetts upon the general election for 
magistrates held on the 24th of May. 

Lord Baltimore sent about two hundred Roman Catholic 
colonists to Maryland to found a settlement. Upon their ar- 
rival, they purchased an Indian town, to which they gave the 
name of St. Mary's. 

1635 On the 20th of October, about sixty men, women, and chil- 
dren, with their horses, cattle, and swine, commenced a re- 
moval from Massachusetts through the wilderness to the 
Connecticut River. Some of these settled at Windsor; others 
at the place afterward called Hartford ; and others began a set- 
tlement which they called Wethersfield. 

Men, ordnance, ammunition, and £2000 sterling were sent 
over from England to build and fortify a fort at the mouth of 
the Connecticut River. This fort was given the name of Say- 



8 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

brook Fort, iu liooor of Lord Say and Seal and Lord Brooke, 
two of the proprietors of the Connecticut patent. 

The authorities of Massachusetts enacted a law that musket 
bullets should be used as currency. 

1636 The ministers of Newtown in Massachusetts, Hooker and 
Stone, with their entire congregation, removed to the settlement 
on Connecticut River, which the next year received the 
name of Hartford. They purchased the land from the Indians, 
and commenced to lay out a town. 

Springfield was settled early in the year by William Pynchon 
and others from Roxbuiy. 

Roger Williams, having been banished from Massachusetts 
on account of religious differences, and, refused an asylum iu 
the Plymouth Colony, travelled southward with some fol 
lowers, and planted a settlement which he named Providence. 

1637 The Pequot Indians having murdered some of the colonists 
and committed some depredations, the colonists of the three 
towns on the Connecticut River organized a body of troops who, 
with about five hundied friendly Indians, marched into the 
Pequot country and attacked one of their forts. In this con- 
flict about seventy wigwams were burned and between five 
and seven hundred of the enemy perished, either by the sword 
or flames. Other expeditions against the unfriendly tribe 
were instituted, and by their success hostilities ceased for a 
time. 

1638 John Davenport, a celebrated minister of London, accom- 
panied by Theophilus Eaton and Edward Hopkins, merchants 
of that city, with several other respectable persons, arrived at 
Boston in the preceding year. Some of their number were sent 
to Connecticut to explore the coast to discover a suitable place 
for settlement, which they found at Quinnipiack. Here thej' 
erected a hut, in which a few men remained through the winter. 
The way being prepared, the company sailed from Boston on 
the 30th of March, and in about two weeks arrived at their 
destination. They purchased two large tracts of land from the 
Indians, and near the bay of Quinnipiack laid out a town iu 
squares, and called it New Haven. 

Eighteen emigrants from Massachusetts purchased an island 
in Narragansett Bay from the natives, formed themselves into a 
body-politic and commenced the .settlement of Newport. 

Harvard College was founded at Newtown, and the name of 
that place changed to Cambridge. 

The town of Exeter in New Hampshire was founded. 

1639 The members of the Connecticut Colony adopted a constitu- 
tion of government, and chose John Haynes governor. The 
New Haven Colony was similarly con.stituted, and Theophilus 
Eaton chosen governor. Settlers from the New Haven 
Colony founded the towns of Milford, Guilford, Stratford, and 
Fairfield. 

George Fenwick, a gentleman of considerable wealth, founded 
the town of Saybrook. 



HISTOEY OF THK UNITED STATKS. 9 

The first printing press in North America was set up this 
year by Stephen Day, at Cambridge in Massachusetts. 

General assemblies in Plymouth and in Maryland con- 
vened this year for the first time. 

1640 About forty families from Lynn, Massachusetts, emigrated 
to Long Island, and founded the town of Southampton. 

Settlements under the jurisdiction of the New Haven Colony 
were made on both sides of Delaware River and Bay ; also on 
Long Island, where the settlers founded the town of Southold. 

The first book printed on the continent north of Mexico was 
published this year at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was 
titled " The Bay Psalms Book." 

The first distillation of brandy in the colonies was com- 
menced by the Dutch on Staten Island. 

1641 The manufacture of rope was commenced in Boston. Here- 
tofore it was only obtained from England. 

1642 New England at this time contained about fifty towns and 
villages. 

A settlement on the island of Martha's Vineyard was com- 
menced by Thomas May hew. 

A stone chuich and a stone tavern were erected at New 
Amsterdam. The tavern was built on the East River near the 
present Coenties Slip, and was afterward converted by the 
Dutch into a City Hall. 

1643 The colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, New Haven, and 
Coimecticut united in a confederation for amity, offence and 
defence, and mutual advice and assistance, under the title of 
The United Colonies of New England. 

The English Parliament passed an ordinance appointing the 
Earl of Warwick governor-in-chlef and lord high admiral of 
the American colonies, with a council of five peers and twelve 
commoners. It empowered him, in conjunction with his as- 
sociates, to examine the state of their affairs, to send for papers 
and persons, to remove governors and officers and appoint 
others in their places,and to assign over to these such part of tlie 
powers that were now granted as he should think proper. 

The colonists in New Netherlands suffered from the ravages 
and depredations of the Indians in this and the next year. 

1644 Roger Williams obtained from the Earl of Warwick a patent 
for the incorporation of the towns of Providence, Newport, and 
Portsmouth. 

A terrible massacre was committed upon the Englisli in 
Vii"ginia by the Indians, who had confederated to exterminate 
the colonists. The massacre began in the out-parts of the 
colony, and continued two days. Three hundred of the English 
Avere killed. 

The settlement of Hempstead.on Long Island, was commenced 
by some emigrants from England. 

1645 In the colony of Connecticut there were now eight towns: 
Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, Stratford, Fairfield, Say- 
brook, Farmington, and Southampton on Long Island. In the 
colony of New Haven there were six: New Haven, Mil ford. 



10 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Guilford, Stamford, Branford, and Southold on Long Is 
land. 

Massachusetts passed the first law in New England for estab- 
lishing public schools. 

William Clayborn and Richard Ingle raised a rebellion in 
Maryland, seized the administration, and compelled Governor 
Calvert to flee to Virginia. The rebels exercised the govern- 
ment of the province more than a year, and distinguished the 
period of their dominion by disorder and misrule. 

John Winthrop, Jr., with some associates, obtained from the 
town of Boston three thousand acres of the common lands at 
Braintree, for an encouragement or bounty for setting up iron- 
works, and a monopoly of that business for twenty-one years. 

1646 John Eliot, a minister of Roxbury, Massachusetts, com- 
menced his labors among the Indians, which procured for him 
the title of " The Indian Apostle." 

A settlement on Long Island, on the site of the present city of 
Brooklyn, was already commenced, and now it received a village 
charter under the name of " Breuckelen," from the ancient 
village of the same name in Holland. The settlement was es- 
tablished on the present Fulton Avenue near Hoyt and Smith 
streets. There w'ere a few houses at the water's edge near the 
present Fulton Ferry. This hamlet was known as ' ' "The Feriy. " 

1647 The freemen of the several settlements on Rhode Island con- 
vened for the first time in general assembly, and established a 
code of laws. 

1648 The first instance of capital punishment for witchcraft occur- 
ring in colonial histoiy was this year, in Massachusetts. 

The settlement of New London, in Connecticut, was com- 
menced. 
1650 Negro slaves were introduced into New Netherlands about 

this time. 
1652 The Swedes attacked and took a fort which the Dutch had 
established on the Delaware in the preceding j^ear. 

A mint for coining money was erected in Massachusetts. 
The money coined was in shillings, sixpences, and threepence's. 

The settlement of Newtown and Flatbush, on Long Island, 
was commenced under patents of the Dutch governor. 

The first iron forge in America was established this year in 
Raynham, a town of tlie Plymouth Colony. 

1654 The inhabitants of Flatbush erected a church, which was 
the first one built on Long Island. 

1655 The Dutch, under Governor Stuyvesant, sailed from Ne^^■ 
Amsterdam on an expedition against the Swedes on the Dela- 
ware. The Swedish forts were all taken, and the garrisons sur- 
rendered. Some of the Swedes took the oath of allegiance to 
the Dutch Government. The rest returned to Sweden. 

A conflict took place between the Catholics and Protestants 
in Maryland, and several were killed. 

1656 The first Quakers that appeared in New England arrived this 
year in Massachusetts, and wei'e banished the colony. 

At this period New Amsterdam contained seventeen streets, 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 11 

one hundred and twenty houses, and about one thousand inhab- 
itants. 

1658 The settlement of Stonington, in Connecticut, was com- 
meaced. The place was tirst called Southerton. 

Stone pavements were now laid in New Amsterdam. The 
street first paved still retains the name of " Stone street." 

1659 Two Quakers who returned to Massachusetts after banishment 
were executed. Another one, a woman, was convicted and sen- 
tenced to die, but was reprieved on condition of her departure 
from the jurisdiction within forty-eight hours. The woman 
returned again, and was also executed in the next year. 

Thomas Macy, with his family, removed from Massachusetts, 
and commenced the first settlement on Nantucket. 

The manufacture of bricks was now commenced at New 
Am.sterdam, and brick buildings from this time began to 
be erected. Before this bricks had been imported from Hol- 
land, and used only for chimneys and ovens. 

1660 New England contained at this time about thirty-eight thou- 
sand inhabitants, Maryland twelve thousand, and Virginia 
thirty thousand. 

1661 The translation of the New Testament into the Indian lan- 
guage by John Eliot was printed this year. 

1662 Connecticut obtained a charter from King Charles II., under 
which the colony was granted many im.portant privileges. 

The Virginia Legislature passed stringent laws against Quak- 
ers, and sectarians of every denomination. 

Two licensers of the press were appointed in Massachusetts. 

A few French Protestant refugees were granted leave by the 
authorities of Massachusetts to reside in that colony. 

Maryland passed an Act to establish a mint. 

1663 King Charles II. granted a charter to the Earl of Clarendon 
and associates for colonizing and for the government of the coun- 
try lying between the 31st and 36th degrees north latitude. 
The name of Carolina was given to the new province. 

King Charles II. conferred a charter on Rhode Island and 
Providence Plantations. 

An Act of Parliament was passed to monopolize the colonial 
trade for England. All goods purchased in Europe by the colo- 
nists must pass through the British ports. 

On the 7th of June the Dutch settlement of Esopus, since 
called Kingston, was attacked by the Indians. Twenty one of 
the inhabitants were massacred and forty-five carried away 
captive. A new settlement near by, called the " Rondout," 
was almost annihilated by the savages. 

The translation of the Bible into the Indian language, by 
John Eliot, was printed this year. 

1664 King Charles II. granted a patent to his brother, the Duke 
of York and Albany, for several tracts of land in America, a 
part of which territory was subsequently reconveyed to Lord 
Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, under the name of New Jer- 
sey. 

An expedition was fitted out in England, under the command 



12 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

of Richard Nichols, for the conquest of the Dutch in America. 
Nichols appeared in the harbor of New Amsterdam in August, 
and demanded the surrender of the town and fort from Gov- 
ei'nor Stuyvesant. Letters and messages were exchanged, and 
at length the Dutch governor agreed to capitulate. Articles to 
that end were signed on the 27th of August. By the terms 
of the surrender the Dutch were to continue free denizens, 
to retain their estates, to enjoy their ancient customs with 
regard to inheritances, to enjoy their modes of worship and 
church discipline, and they were allowed a freedom of trade to 
Holland. In honor of the Duke of York, New Amsterdam 
now took the name of New York. On the 24th of September 
the Dutch garrison and settlement at Fort Orange surrendered 
to the English, and in honor of the Duke the place was called 
Albany. On the 1st of October the Dutch and Swedes on 
the Delaware capitulated. The English now exercised domin- 
ion over all New Netherlands. 

The settlement of Newark, Middletown, Shrewsbury, and 
Elizabethtown, in New Jersey, was commenced by removals 
from New England and Long Island. 

The Legislature of Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting 
the establishment of any printing-press, excepting in the town of 
Cambridge. 

Nichols made a treaty with the Indians of the Five Nations, 
by which they ceded their lands and submitted to the King of 
England. 

1665 The colonies of New Haven and Connecticut formed a union, 
uniting into one colony under the name of the latter. There 
were now nineteen towns in the united colonies. The town of 
Branford dissented from this union, and most of the inhabi- 
tants removed to Newark, in New Jersey. 

The city of New York was incorporated, and a mayor, five 
aldermen, and a sheriff were chosen. 

Emigi-ants from Barbadoes commenced a settlement in Caro- 
lina under the leadership of John Yeamans, who was appointed 
Governor of the County of Clarendon, which had lately be6n 
laid out by the proprietors of the province. 

St. Augustine, in Florida, was sacked and plundered hy 
John Davis, a pirate. 

1666 Connecticut established four counties : Hartford, New Haven, 
New London, and Fairfield, with a court in each county. 

The first church built in Brooklyn was erected this year, on 
the site of Fulton Avenue, near Lawrence Street. 
1668 The province of Maine, upon application of some of its in- 
habitants, was put under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. 

The Legislature of Massachusetts granted to Daniel Gookin 
and others a township of land eight miles square, by the name 
of Worcester. 

The first permanent settlement within the limits of the pres- 
ent State of Michigan was made this year, by Father Mar 
quette, a French missionary, who established a mission at 
Sault Ste. Marie. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 13 

1669 The Old South Church in Boston was erected this year. 
This was the third church built in Boston. 

1670 A colony of settlers arrived in Carolina from England, and 
( ommenced a settlement on the neck of land between the Ash- 
ley and Cooper rivers, where in the next year they founded 
■A town, which they called Charlestown. 

16T1 Virginia, at this period, contained about forty thousand in- 
habitants, of whom two thousand were slaves. 

The Assembly of Maryland passed an act encouraging the im- 
portation of negro slaves. 

1672 The English Parliament passed an act imposing customs upon 
the colonies, to be collected by revenue-officers to be appointed 
by the crown. 

The whale-tishery business was commenced at Nantucket. 

1673 A war having broken out between England and Holland, the 
Dutch sent an expedition to destroy the commerce of the Eng- 
lish colonies in America. After ravaging the coast of Virginia, 
learning the defenceless condition of New York, the Dutch 
proceeded to that city and forced its surrender, and soon after 
compelled all New Netherlands to submission. This conquest 
extended to the whole province of New Jersey. Upon the exe- 
cution of a treaty of peace between the two nations in the fol- 
lowing year these possessions were restored to the English. 

New England, it was estimated, contained at this time about 
one hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, of whom fifteen 
hundred families resided in Boston. 

The first mail between Boston and New York was established 
this year, " for a more speedy intelligence and despatch of af- 
fairs." The letters were to be carried by a messenger, who was 
directed to go and return once a month. 

The Mississippi River was explored for a considerable por- 
tion of its length by Father Marquette, a French missionary, 
and Joliet, a citizen of Quebec. 

1674 The authorities in Massachusetts granted to John Foster the 
privilege of setting up a printing-press in Boston. 

1676 A war commenced between Philip, a king of one of the In- 
dian tribes in New England, and the colonists, which soon ex- 
tended to other tribes, and lasted more than a year. The 
colonists experienced great cruelties and suffering, and lost 
about six hundred, who were either massacred or taken captive. 
Twelve or thirteen towns were destroyed. 

1676 A rebellion broke out in Virginia under the leadership of 
Nathaniel Bacon, which cost the colony £100,000. The prin- 
cipal causes of this rebellion are supposed to have been the ex 
tremely low price of tobacco, and the ill-treatment of the plant- 
ers in the exchange of goods for it ; the splitting of the colony 
into proprietaries, contrary to the original charters, and the ex- 
travagant taxes to which they were subjected to relieve them- 
selves from those grants ; the heavy restraints and burdens laid 
upon their trade by act of parliament ; and the disturbance 
given by the Indians. 

New Jersey was now divided into two parts, ciUed East 



14 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Jersey and West Jersey. East Jersey was governed by Carte- 
ret, and West Jersey became a dependency of New York. 

1677 The province of Maine was purchased of its proprietor by 
an agent of the Massachusetts Colony in England. From this 
time Maine formed a part of Massachusetts. 

Burlington, in West Jersey, was laid out and soon settled by 
English emigrants. 

A. collector of customs was sent from England to Carolina, 
who rendered himself obnoxious to the people. An insurrec- 
tion broke out, and the insurgents overturned the government, 
which they exercised for two years with all the authority of an 
Independent State. 

The authorities of Massachusetts passed a new law for the 
apprehension and punishment of every person found in attend- 
ance at a Quaker meeting. 

A postal system was inaugurated in Massachusetts to insure 
regularity in the delivery of mail. Heretofore it had been the 
custom to deposit letters at the Town House, to be taken and 
forwarded at the pleasure of those who visited the place. 

1678 The province of New York contained at this time about 
twenty-four towns and villages. There were three hundred 
and forty-three houses in the city of New York. 

1679 A collector of royal customs for New England was now ap- 
pointed, and Edward Randolph was sent over in that capacity. 
Upon his arrival at Boston he was considered as an enemy and 
opposed by the people, who considered their chartered privi- 
leges invaded. 

A conflagration broke out in Boston about midnight on the 
8th of August, and destroyed above eighty dwellings, seventy 
warehouses, and a large amount of property. The loss was 
computed to be £200,000. 

La Salle built a ship on Niagara River, above the Falls, and 
sailed into Lake Erie. This was the first vessel ever seen on 
the great lakes. In this vessel La Salle sailed across Lake Erie 
and through the strait and lake which he named St. Clair, and 
through Lake Huron into Lake Michigan, where he constructed 
a trading house at Mackinaw. Thence he proceeded to Green 
Bay. From that place he sent his vessel back with a cargo of 
rich furs, and he proceeded with a part of his company in 
canoes, fifteen hundred miles from the nearest French settle- 
ment, into the Illinois country, where he erected a fort near 
Lake Peoria. 

1680 By orders from England, New Hampshire was now set apart 
from the jurisdiction of Massachusetts and erected into a sepa- 
rate province, against the will of the inhabitants. The first pro- 
vincial assembly convened at Portsmouth on the 16th of March. 

Connecticut contained at this time twenty-six towns, and 
Rhode Island nine. 

The foundation of a new town in Carolina was laid, and 
called Charlestown. The inhabitants of the old town called 
by that name removed to the new place, and it was made the 
seat of government. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 15 

The upper pare of the Mississippi River was explored this 
year by Father Hennepin. He discovered the falls which he 
named the " Falls of St. Anthony of Padua." 

1681 William Penu I'eceived on the 4th of March from King 
Charles H. a charter and grant of the lands in America lying 
between Delaware Bay andRiver and the province of Maryland, 
to which territorj' was given the name of Pennsylvania. Ad- 
vertising this fact, many single persons and families, chiefly of 
the Quaker denomination, prepared to remove from England 
to the new province. A number of merchants formed an associ- 
ation and purchased from Penn twenty thousand acres for £400. 
On the 11th of July Penn entered into certain articles with the 
purchasers and adventurers, which were entitled "Conditions 
and Concessions." The preliminaries being settled, a colony 
was sent over during the year, and upon its arrival commenced 
a settlement above the contiuence of the Schuylkill and the 
Dela^vare. 

1682 William Penn published a frame of government for the new 
province, with a body of laws agreed upon in England between 
himself and the purchasers. To prevent all future pretence of 
claim to the province by the Duke of York, he obtained from 
him a deed of release for it. In the month of August, Penn, 
accompanied by about one hundred colonists, chiefly Quakers, 
embarked for America, and landed at Newcastle on the 34th of 
October. On the 4th of December he called an assembly of the 
people at the place since called Chester, and instituted laws for 
the government of the province. He then entered into a treaty 
with the Indians, and made purchases of some of their lands. 
Penn next proceeded to lay out a place for a proposed city, to 
which he had already assigned the name of Philadelphia. The 
city was immediatelj^ begun, and within less than a year eighty 
houses and cottages were built. 

Newark, in East Jersey, contained at this time about one 
himdred families. Settlements were commenced this j'ear on 
the Jersey shore of the Delaware by three hundred and sixty 
emigrants from Europe. 

At this period New Hampshire contained about four thousand 
inhabitants. 

M. de la Salle descended the Illinois into the Mississippi, and 
down that river to the sea, and formally taking possession of 
all the country watered by that river for the King of France, 
named it, in his honor, Louisiana. 

The first English settlements west of the Alleghanies were 
now made on the east .side of the Mississippi, near the site of 
the present city of Alton, in Illinois. 

1683 About twenty families from Germany arrived in Pennsyl- 
vania, and commenced a settlement about seven miles from 
Philadelphia, which they called Germantown. 

On the 17th of October, the inhabitants of the province of 
New York convened for the first time in general assembly at 
the city of New York, and passed several important laws. 

A controversy having arisen between Massachusetts and the 



16 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

crown, principally concernino; the collection of royal customs 
at Boston, an order of council was passed on the !i6th of July 
for issuing a quo warranto against the charter of Massachusetts, 
with a declaration from the king that if the colony before 
prosecution would make full submission and resignation to his 
pleasure, he would regulate their charter for his service and 
their good, and withno further alterations than should be 
necessary for the support of his government there. The propo- 
sition of the king divided llie Massachusetts Legislature. The 
governor and a majority of the assistants voted not to contend 
in law, but to submit to the king's pleasure. The representa- 
tives, after a fortnight's consideration, refused their concurrence 
in this vote, and a letter of attorney was sent to an agent in 
England to appear and answer in behalf of the colony. 

The first printing-press set up in the colonies south of Bos- 
ton was introduced about this time into Virginia, and immedi- 
ately suppressed by the governor. This action was approved 
by the king, and he sent positive instructions that no printing- 
press should be allowed in Virginia. 
168i On the 18th of June the High Court of Chancery, in Eng- 
land, gave judgment for the king against the colony of Massa- 
chusetts ; their charter was declared forfeited, and the liberties 
of the colonists seized into the hands of the king. 

The Indians composing the Five Nations made a treaty of 
peace with the English, at a grand convention held at Albany 
on the 2d of August. 

Philadelphia now contained three hundred houses and about 
two thousand inhabitants. 

The French erected a fort at the falls of Niagara. 

1685 King Charles II. died, and was succeeded by his brother 
under the title of James II. The new king caused a quo war- 
ranto to be issued against the charters of Rhode Island and 
Connecticut. A collector of royal customs was established in 
Carolina at the port of Charlestown. 

1686 The attorney-general of England was ordered to prosecute 
writs of quo warranto against East and West Jersey. King 
James, designing to establish an arbitrary government for New 
York, deprived that province of its immunities. He also or- 
dered that no printing-press should be established there. 

Sir Edmund Andros arrived at Boston on the 20th of De- 
cember, with a commission from the kiag for the government 
of New England. Among his instructions was one that no 
printing-press should be allowed. He was also instructed to 
give universal toleration in religion but encouragenrent to the 
Church of England; to execute the laws of trade, and prevent 
frauds in customs. To support his authority, two companies 
of soldiers were sent over from England. Immediately after 
his arrival Andros proceeded to Rhode Island, dissolved the 
government, and assumed the administration. 

Under the encouragement of the new administration an 
Episcopal society was organized in Boston, which was the first 
in that place. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 17 

1687 Anclros introduced the Episcopal service in the Old South 
Church in Boston, against the will of its proprietors. In Oc- 
tober Andros went to Hartford, accompanied by his troops, 
where the general assembly was in session, and, demanding the 
surrender of the Connecticut charter, declared the government 
under it to be dissolved. The charter, however, was preserved, 
through the zeal of Captain Wadsworth, of Hartford, who se- 
creted it in the hollow of an oak-tree. That tree, known in 
history as the Charter Oak, was held in veneration until it was 
blown down by a storm more than one hundred and fifty years 
afterward. 

The first printing-press established in Pennsylvania was set 
up this year, near Philadelphia, by William Bradford. The 
first publication was an almanac. 

'1688 The administration of the government by Andros was so op- 
pressive to the inhabitants of Massachusetts, they despatched 
an agent to England to represent their grievances to the king. 
The first Episcopal church edifice in Massachusetts was built 
in Boston and called the King's Chapel. 

1689 The news of the abdication of King James and of the acces- 
sion of William and Mary to the throne arrived in Boston in 
May. In April, before the news of the revolution in England 
had I'eached America, the people of Boston and the surround- 
ing country rose in arms, seized and confined Andros, and such 
of the council as had been most active, together with several of 
the inhabitants who had made themselves obnoxious, and re- 
instated the old magistrates in power. 

The freemen of Rhode Island, on heaiing of the imprison- 
ment of Andros, met at Newport on the first of May, and 
voted to resume their charter; and replaced all the general offi- 
cers who had been displaced three years before. 

The government of Connecticut was re established by the 
freemen of that colony in May, and the laws which had been 
suspended were declared to have the same force as they had 
before. 

Information of the accession of William and Mary to the 
throne was received in New York with great satisfaction. 
About fifty of tlie inhabitants seized the garrison, formed them- 
selves into a committee of safety to hold and rule the province 
until the government should be established by the new king. 
A bitter strife and feud were now inaugurated between two con- 
tending factions of the citizens for the temporary control of the 
government. 

New Rochelle, in New York, was settled this year by a 
colony of French Huguenots. The French language was 
chietly spoken there for at least two generations. 

1690 The French in Canada organized three expeditions, com- 
posed of French and Indians, to devastate the English colonies. 
One party entered the village of Schenectady on the night of 
the eighth of February, surprised the inhabitants when 
asleep, and set the town on fire. Sixty men, women, and 
children were massacred, and twenty- seven carried away pris- 



18 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

oners; the rest fled, nearly naked, towards Albany. Another 
party surprised Salmon Falls, in New Hampshire, on the 18th 
of March. The place was pillaged and burned; about thii'ty of 
the inhabitants were killed, and lifty-four made prisoners. On 
the 17th of May the fort and settlement of Casco were attacked 
and destroyed. These depredations alarmed the country, and 
preparations were soon made to make an attack on the French 
settlements in Nova Scotia. A fleet of eight vessels, carrying 
nearty eight hundred men, w^as despatched under the command 
of Sir William Phips to attack Port Royal. Upon the arrival 
there of the expedition, the place, being in no condition to 
stand a siege, surrendered with little or no resistance. Sir 
William Phips now took possession of all the coast from Port 
Royal to the English settlements. An expedition was soon 
after organized to subjugate Canada, and on the 5th of October 
it arrived at Quebec. On learning the strength of the place, 
the invaders abandoned their project and returned to Boston. 
Success had been so confidently expected, that adequate pro- 
vision had not been made for the pajonent of the troops. In 
this emergency the government of Massachusetts issued bills 
of credit as a substitute for money, and these were the first 
that were issued in the American colonies. 

A large number of French Protestant refugees emig-rated to 
America this year, and settled in Carolina and Virginia. 

The whale-fishery at Nantucket was commenced on a large 
scale at this time. 

The first newspaper published in America was issued at 
Boston on the 25th of September, and was called Public 
Occurrences. Before the second number appeared the legis- 
lature suppressed its publication. 

The first paper-mill in America was established this year, by 
William Bradford, near Philadelphia. 

1692 King William granted to Connecticut and Rhode Island the 
right to resume their old charters, and he gave to Massachusetts 
a new charter. Under this the colony of Plymouth was united 
with that of Massachusetts. The jurisdiction of Massachusetts 
extended over the provinces of Maine, Nova Scotia, and other 
territory. 

Twenty persons were put to death this year in Massachusetts, 
upon theii' conviction of the charge of practising witchcraft. 

A party of French and Indians surprised and nearly de- 
stroyed the whole town of York, in Maine, on the 25th of 
January, massacring about seventy-five of the inhabitants and 
carrying away captive about the same number. 

A charter was obtained from the crown for a college to be 
established in Virginia under the name of "The College of 
Willliam and Mary in Virginia." 

A whipping-post, pillory, and ducking-stool were established 
in the city of New York. 

1693 William Bradford was appointed printer to the government 
of New York, and set up the first press in that province. 

1694 A body of Indians commanded by a French officer attacked 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 19 

a village on Oyster river in New Hampshire, burned twenty 
bouses and massacred and took captive in all about one hun- 
dred of the inhabitants. 

1695 The planting of rice in Carolina was commenced this j-ear. 
A brigantine from Madagascar touching at Carolina on her way 
to Great Britain, anchored off Sullivan's Island. The captain 
of the N'cssel presented a bag of seed-rice to one of the colonists, 
and gave him directions how it should be planted, with infor- 
mation of its growth in Eastern countries, and of its incredible 
increase. The rice was distributed among several of the inhabi- 
tants, who made the experiment of plantmgit in different soils. 
The success fully equalled their expectations, and from this small 
beginning arose the staple commodity of Carolina, which soon 
became the great source of its opulence. 

The tirst Episcopal church in Pennsylvania was erected this 
year in Philadelphia. 

1696 At this period, New England had about one hundred thou- 
sand inhabitants and one hundred and thirty churches. 

The city of New York contained five hundred and ninety-four 
houses and six thousand inhabitants. The Reformed Protestant 
Dutch Church, at New York, received a charter of incorporation. 

The Spaniards built a church, a fort, and some dwelling 
houses at Pensacola. 

A cargo of negro slaves direct from Africa arrived in Rhode 
Island. Some were sold there and the I'emainder in Boston. 

1697 Trinity Church in New York was completed, and opened for 
worship on the 6th of February. 

Paper was commenced to be manufactured at Germantown, 
Penna. 

The streets of New York were now ordered to be lighted oy 
the Common Council. The lighting was to be done in a 
lantern suspended from a pole stretched out from the win- 
dow of every seventh house. A night-watch was also insti- 
tuted. 

1698 A town was laid out in Virginia, and called Williamsburg in 
honor of the king. The seat of government was removed 
there from Jamestown. 

There were at this time about four thousand Indians in 
Massachusetts. 

Louis XIV. of France projected the settlement of a colony in 
XiOuisiana, and sent over two vessels to visit the country and 
gather information in regard to it. 

1699 The seat of government for Maryland was removed from St 
Mary's to Annapolis. 

William Kidd, the noted pirate, was apprehended in Boston, 
committed to prison, and sent to England for ti'ial, where he was 
afterward condemned and executed. Kidd was formerly known 
as one of the boldest and most successful shipmasters that 
sailed from New York. In May, 1691, the Common Council 
of New York awarded him £150 for service to the colony. 
Receiving from King William a commission as captain of a 
galley of thirty guns for the suppression of piracy, he sailed 



20 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

from England in 1696, but turning pirate himself, returned in 
1698 with a large booty to New York 

1700 The authorities of New York and Massachusetts passed acts 
for the banishment of all Popish priests and Jesuits from those 
provinces. 

At this period Boston contained about 7000 inhabitants and 
about 1000 houses. There were about 5500 whites in Carolina. 

The tirst public library instituted in America was this }-ear 
founded in New York. This library was subsequently merged 
•with the Society Library, which was founded in 1754. 

1701 Yale College was founded this year. It Avas chartered by 
the Assembly, and its trustees ajipointed Saybrook for its loca- 
tion. 

The number of the inhabitants in the American colonics at 
this period was estimated at 262,000. 

The first pennanent settlement in Michigan was founded this 
year by the French. Sieur de la Motte Cadillac, accompanied 
with one hundred men, departed from Quebec on the 8th of 
March, and arrived on the site of the present city of Detroit 
on the 24th of June. He at once erected a fort, a palisaded 
structure, near the present Jefferson Avenue, Shelby and 
Woodbridge streets. 

1702 King William died on the 8lh of ]March, and wrs succeeded 
by Queen Anne. 

A rupture having taken place between England and Spain. 
the Governor of Carolina organized an expedition against St. 
Augustine. The enterprise was unsuccessful, and entailed a 
debt of £6000 on the colony ; to pay this, the provincial assembly 
of Carolina passed an act for the issue of bills of credit. This 
was the first paper monej' issued in Carolina. 

East and West Jersey were now united under one government 
by Queen Anne, and received the name of New Jersey. The 
first Episcopal society in that province was organized. 

The erection of the first Episcopal church at Newport was 
commenced. 

The Episcopal was made the established Church in Maryland, 
and all the citizens were required to be taxed for its mainte- 
nance. 

A pestilent fever brought from the West Indies to New York 
ravaged that city, and carried off one tenth of the population. 

1703 Virginia contained at this time about 6900 inhabitants. 
Several settlements in Maine were attacked by the French and 

Indians, and about one hundred and fifty of the inhabitants 
were massacred or taken away captive. 

The "King's Farm " in the city of New York was granted 
to Trinity Church by Queen Anne. This gift laid the founda- 
tion of the vast revenues of that society. 

1704 The Legislature of Maryland passed an act to prevent the 
growth of Popery in that province. 

A party of French and Indians set fire to the town of Doer- 
field, in Massachusetts, massacred forty -seven of the inhabit- 
ants, and t/.w)k away one hundred and twelve as captives. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 21 

The Church of England was made the established church in 
Carolina. 

The first newspaper published in America (excepting the 
single issue in 1690) was issued on the 24th of April, at 
Boston, and called The Boston News Letter. It was published 
weekly, and was printed on a half sheet twelve inches by 
eight. 

The first Episcopal church built in New Jersey was erected 
at Burlington. 

1706 A large force of French and Spaniards sailed into the harbor 
of Charleston, in Carolina, to assaidt that place, but they were 
repulsed by the colonists, with a loss of three hundred men. 

1707 Two regiments embarked from Nantasket, Mass., in May, to 
proceed against the French at Port Royal. They made an at- 
tempt to bombard the fort and failed, and the enterprise was 
abandoned. 

The first Episcopal society in Connecticut was formed at 
Stratford. 

1708 A body of French and Indians attacked the town of Haver- 
hill, in New Hampshire, burned .several houses, aud plundered 
the rest. Nearly forty persons were massacred, and many car- 
ried away as prisoners. 

1709 An extensive plan was determined' on by the colonies of New 
York, New Jersey, and New England, to subdue the French in 
Canada, Arcadia, and Newfoundland. Five regiments of regu- 
lar troops were to be sent from England to join in the enterprise. 
Affairs on the Continent obliged England to abandon sending 
her troops to America, and the project was thereby frustrated. 
To defray the expenses of this projected expedition, the colonies 
of New York, New Jersey, aud Connecticvit issued bills of 
credit for the first time. 

The first printing-press established in Connecticut was set up 
this year in New London. 

A slave-market was established in the city of New York. 

1710 An expedition set sail from Boston, on the 18th of September, 
against the French fort at Port Ro^^al. On the 2(1 of October 
the place capitulated, and its name changed to that of Annapo- 
lis, in honor of Queen Anne. 

A post-otfice establishment for the colonies in America was 
created by an act of Parliament. The chief office was made at 
New York, and sub-offices at such other places as the Postmas- 
ter-General might direct. 

1711 A large expedition, consisting of an armament from England 
and a large body of colonial troops, sailed from Boston on the 
30th of July, to attack the French in Canada. In proceeding 
up the St. Lawrence River the fleet struck upon the rocks, and 
eight or nine of the transports were wrecked, and about one 
thousand lives lost. Upon this disaster the design was relin- 
quished and the fleet turned about, aud the English vessels 
returned directly to England. Another large expedition, in- 
tended to act in concert with the other, left Albany on the 28th 
of August, and commenced a march toward Canada, but hear- 



22 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

ing of the failure of the Boston expedition the whole enterprise 
was abandoned, and the forces returned home. 

A conflagration in Boston, in October, destroyed the Town 
Hall and about one hundred other buildings. 

A regular weekly mail was established between Boston and 
Maine, and a bi-weekly mail between Boston and New York. 

1712 A war between the colonists of Carolina and the Indians 
broke out, in which a large number of the inhabitants were 
massacred. The Indians were conquered, and nearly all of them 
in the northern part of that colony extirpated. 

At this period the settlers in Louisiana numbered twenty- 
eight families. 

The negroes in the city of New York formed a plot to set 
fire to the city, and in its execution killed several of the 
inhabitants. Nineteen of the negroes were convicted and ex- 
ecuted. 

Albany contained at this time about four thousand inhabi- 
tants. 

1713 At this period there were forty-five towns in Connecticut. 
The settlement of Worcester, in Massachusetts, was com- 
menced. 

1715 About four hundred of the inhabitants of South Carolina 
were killed this year in a war with the Indians in the central 
and southern parts of the province. 

The manufacture of pig and bar iron was commenced in 
Virginia. 

1717 The college heretofore instituted at Saj'brook was removed 
this year to Now Haven, and in honor of Governor Yale, it« 
great benefactor, was named Yale College. 

New Orleans was founded by the French. 

1718 Emigrants to the number of eight hundred arrived in Louisi 
ana, and most of them settled at New Orleans and Natchez. 

1719 The first newspaper published in America, outside of Boston, 
was issued in Philadelphia, and called The American Weekly 
Mercury. 

The first Presbyterian chm-ch built in New York was erected 
this year on Wall Street. 
Tea began to be used in New England for the first time. 

1720 About this time clocks were first introduced into America. 
Heretofore time was marked by the hour-glass. 

The manufacture of iron was commeneed in Pennsylvania, 
about this time, by a settler named Nutt, who erected a'forge in 
Coventry. 

1721 The small-pox devastated Boston and vicinity, attacking 
nearly six thousand people. Inoculation for that disease was 
now first introduced into New England, and met with violent 
opposition. 

1722 Massachusetts contained at this period about ninety-four 
thousand inhabitants. 

The first manufacture of hemp-duck in America was com- 
menced about this time, in Rhode Island. 

1723 The Province of Pennsylvania for the first time issued paper 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 23 

money. In March it emitted £15,000, and £30,000 in the latter 
part of the year. 

The Episcopal society in Stratford, Conn., completed a 
church this year. This was the first Episcopal church erected 
in Connecticut. 

1725 The first newspaper published in the province of New York 
was issued on the 16th of October by William Bradford, in the 
city of New York, and called the New York Qazeite. 

1726 The first printing-press in Maryland was set up at Annapolis. 
The printing for that province was done before this in Phila- 
delphia. A printing-press was also set up in Virginia about this 
time. 

1727 The fii'st newspaper printed in Maryland was published at 
Annapolis, and called the Maryland Oazette. 

Fredericksburg, in Virginia, was founded by an act of the 
assembly. 

1729 The province of Carolina was divided this year, and two dis- 
tinct governments instituted. North Carolina and South Caro- 
lina were the names given the respective divisions of the terri- 
tory. 

The Indians attacked the French settlement of Natchez, and 
killed about two hundred of the inhabitants. Of all the peo- 
ple residing there, not more than twenty whites and six negroes 
escaped. One hundred and fifty children, eighty women, and 
nearly as many negroes were carried away as prisoners. 

Baltimore was incorporated by the Legislature of Maryland, 
and laid out into town-lots. 

1730 Rhode Island contained at this time about 18,000 inhabitants, 
3800 of whom resided in Newport and 3700 in Providence. 

At this period there were 28,000 negroes in South Carolina. 

The Grovernor of Louisiana dispatched an expedition against 
the Indians, in revenge for their massacre of the French at 
Natchez, which succeeded in capturing nearly the whole tribe. 
The prisoners were transported as slaves to St. Domingo. 

The first printing-press established in either of the colonies of 
Carolina was set up at Charleston. 

The first paper-mill established in New England was erected 
at Milton, in Massachusetts; the proprietor receiving as encour- 
agement from the legislature certain privileges for ten years. 

A line of stages was established between New York and 
Philadelphia to make bi-monthly trips. 

The small pox again ravaged Boston, and carried off about 
five hundred of the inhabitants. 

1731 At this period Massachusetts contained about 120,000 inhab- 
itants; Philadelphia, 12,000 and 2400 houses; and Charleston, 
in South Carolina, between 500 and 600 houses. 

The first newspaper published in South Carolina was issued 
on the 8th of January at Charleston, and called the South 
Carolina Oazette. 

The first fire-engines used in New York arrived from Eng- 
land. A fire department for the city was at once instituted. 

1732 The yellow-fever raged at Charleston, S. C, four or five 



24 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

months, carrying off large numbers of the population. Busi- 
ness was almost entirely suspended. 

The province of New York contained a population of about 
65,000; Pennsylvania, about 30,000; and Virginia, about 60,000. 

The town of Salem, in Massachusetts, contained 520 houses, 
and about five thousand inhabitants. 

The first Episcopal church erected in New Hampshire was 
completed at Portsmouth. 

The first printing-press set up in Rhode Island was estab- 
lished at Newport; and the first newspaper published in that 
colony was issued from that press, this year, aud called the 
Rhode Island Oazette. 

A corporation was formed in England, and received a char- 
ter from King George II., for the colonization of the large un- 
occupied tract of country lying between South Carolina and 
Florida, to which, in honor of the king, was given the name of 
Georgia. That province completed the number of English 
colonies in America that afterward constituted the original 
thirteen United States. 

1733 James Oglethorpe, one of the trustees named in the charter 
for Georgia, arrived in that province in February with one 
hundred and sixteen colonists, and commenced building a fort 
and laying out a town, whicli he called Savannah, from the 
Indian name of the river which ran by it. He called a con- 
vention of the Indians inhabiting the provicce, at which fifty 
chieftains attended, and concluded with them a treaty of amity 
and peace. 

The first lodge of Free Masons in America was opened at 
Boston on the 30lh of July. 

Maryland now contained a population of 36,000. 

The first Catholic church erected in the colonies north of 
Maryland, and the only one previous to the Revolution, was built 
this year in Philadelphia. 

1734 The second Masonic lodge in America was established in 
Philadelphia. 

1735 The first newspaper in America printed in a foreign tongue 
was issued at Germantown, in Pennsylvania, in the German 
language. 

Boston at this time had about 16,000 inhabitants. 

1736 About four hundred emigrants, mostly Scotch and Germans, 
arrived in Georgia this year. — 

Oglethorpe built a fort on the Savannah River at a place 
called Augusta ; a fort and town called Frederica, on an island 
near the mouth of the river ; and another fort, called Cumber- 
land, on an island nearer the sea. The Parliament of Eng- 
land voted £10,000 to defray the expenses of these public works. 

A large body of French and friendly Indians were defeated 
in a battle with the Chickasaws in Louisiana. 

The first newspaper published in Virginia was issued on the 
6th of August, at Williamsburg, and called The Virginia- 
Gazette. 

A regular line of stages was established between Boston and 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 25 

Newport, and exclusive pi'ivileges were granted it for a num- 
ber of years by the Legislature of Rhotle Island. 
1738 Through Spanish intluence an insurrection of the negroes in 
South Carolina broke out, and spread desolation over a large 
district. The negroes were subjugated and the leaders put to 
death. There were at this time about forty thousand negroes 
in the province. 

A college was founded at Pinnccton in New Jersey, and called 
Nassau Hall. 

At this period New Jersey contained a population of 43,388 
whites and 3981 slaves. 

Brooklyn, L. I., at this time had 721 inhabitants, of which 
number 184 were blacks. 
739 The celebrated Methodist preacher George Whitefiold ar- 
rived at Philadelphia from England in September, and preached 
to multitudes in various parts of the colonies in this and the 
following year. 

The tirst church in Baltimore was erected, and occupied by 
the Episcopalians. 

1740 Oglethorpe, with a force of tw^o thousand men, made an un- 
successful attack on St. Augustine. 

A conflagration broke out in Charleston, South Carolina, 
and destroyed three hundred of the best buildings in the town, 
besides other property of great value. The English Parliament 
voted £30,000 in aid of the sufferers. 

The Legislature of South Carolina passed an act to prohibit 
the teaching of negroes to write. 

1741 A conspiracy of negroes and others was formed in New York 
to burn the city. Twenty-two of the incendiaries were exv- 
cuted, thirty burned to death, and great numbers transported. 

The first literary journal published in the country was issued 
by Benjamin Franklin at Philadelphia, and called 17te Gen- 
eral Magazine and HLstorieal Chronicle. 

1742 Faneuil Hall, in Boston, was erected by Peter Faneuil, and 
presented to the town. 

The first public library in Pennsylvania was instituted, 
through the exertions of Benjamin Franklin. 

Richmond, in Virginia, was established by an act of the leg- 
islature. 

1743 A German edition of the Bible was published at German- 
town, in Pennsylvania. 

The cultivation of indigo was introduced into South Carolina 
at this time. A year or more before this date, Mr. Lucas, 
Governor of Antigua, sent some indigo seed to his daughter in 
South Carolina, to plant for her amusement. Learning its 
success, he sent over from Montserrat a man accustomed to 
making indigo, wlio built vats on Wappoe Creek, and there 
made the first indigo that was produced in America. Very soon 
afterward the planting of indigo in South Carolina became 
common, and in a year or two it became an article of export. 
1745 An expedition of four thousand men sailed from Massachu- 
setts against the French town and fort at Louisburg, on the 



26 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

island of Cape Breton. The place was captured, and prizes 
valued at upwards of £600,000 taken. 
The census of New Jersey showed a population of 61,403. 

1746 The first iron rolling and slitting mill in Pennsylvania was 
established in Thornbury Township. 

1747 The first public library in Rhode Island was established at 
Newport. 

1749 Several persons in Virginia and England associated them- 
selves together into a company called the Ohio Company, and 
obtained from the king a grant of 600,000 acres of laiids about 
the Ohio River, in territorj^ claimed by the French. This 
transaction was one of the causes which led to the ensuing war 
between France and England. 

There were at this period 3076 houses in Philadelphia. 
Rhode Island contained about 31,500 inhabitants, of whom 
about 3000 were negroes. 

1750 The English Parliament, to protect the iron industry in Eng- 
land, passed an act prohibiting the erection of any iron rolling 
or slitting mill , or any forge, in the American colonies. 

An amateur theatrical performance was played in Boston, 
which led the Legislature of Massachusetts to pass an act for- 
bidding theatrical entertainments in the province. 

Pennsylvania received this year immigi-ations of 4317 Ger- 
mans and 1000 English and Irish. 

The population of New England was now about 354,000, 
and of South Carolina, 64,000. 

An Academy was instituted in Philadelphia from which the 
University of Pcnnyslvania afterward originated. 

The first theatre established in New York was opened on 
Nassau Street, on the 5th of March, with the plaj^ of Shake- 
peare's tragedy of King Richard III. Regular performances 
were continued for more than fifteen months. 

1751 Philadelphia at this time contained a population of about 
17,000 people, of whom 6000 were negroes. 

The first printing-press in New Jersey was set up at Wood- 
bridge. 

1752 Heretofore in all the British dominions the new year com- 
menced on the 25th of March. By an act of parliament it was 
made to date hereafter on the first day of January. 

The smallpox visited Boston this year, of which disease 
about 550 died. The town contained at this time 17,574 inhab- 
itants. 

Benjamin Franklin made his grand electrical discoveries this 
year. ' 

The first theatre established in Virginia was opened at Wil- 
liamsburg on the 5th of September. The performance came* 
from London, and the first play acted was " The Merchant of 
Venice." 
1754 The encroachments of the French in the territory west of the 
AUeghanies impelled the Legislature of Virginia to send an ex- 
pedition against the invaders. The colonial troops were 
attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and surren- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 27 

dered. By the terms of the capitulation the Eni^lish were re 
leased upon the condition that they would return to the inhab 
ited parts of Virginia. George Washington was one of the 
officers of the Virginia troops engaged in this enterprise. 

The colonists, anticipating a war between France and Eng- 
land, held a convention at Albany to take measures of defence. 
A treaty was concluded with the Indians composing the Si.x 
Nations, and a plan was proposed to form a union of all the 
colonies under one central government. All the delegates, ex- 
cept those from Connecticut, voted for that measure, but it 
was rejected by the different colonial legislatures to whom the 
plan was referred for ratitication. 

The Legislature of New York granted a charter for the incor- 
poration of a college to be called " The Governors of the Col- 
lege of the Province of New York, in the City of New York, 
in America." The president of the college was ever to be of 
the Episcopalian denomination. 
1755 The British Government sent a body of troops to America, 
under the command of General Braddock, to aid the colonists 
in driving out the French from territory claimed by the 
English. Upon Braddock's arrival a convention of the colo- 
nial governors assembled, and determined that three expeditions 
against the French should be organized. The first under Gen- 
eral Braddock, with his British troops, was to attack the French 
fort called Fort du Quesne at the junction of the Alleghany 
and Monongahela rivers; the second, under Governor Shirley 
with American regulars and friendly Indians, to attack the 
French fort at Niagara; the third, composed of militia from 
the northern colonies, to attack Crown Point on Lake Cham- 
plain. While preparations for tiiese enterprises were in prog- 
ress a force of three thousmd men sailed from Boston to at- 
tack the French forts in Nova 8cotia. This expedition was 
successful, an4,for the purpose of extirpating the French from 
that territory seven thousand of the inhabitants were carried 
away and dispersed among the American colonies. On the 
10th of June General Brarldock with 2300 men started on his 
expedition into the wilderness. Pushing forward with 1200 
troops in advance, he fell into an ambuscade of French and 
Indians, who routed his army with great slaughter. Braddock 
and sixty- four other officers and one half of the privates were 
killed or wounded. Braddock soon after died from his 
wounds. George Washington was aide-de-camp to the com- 
maritler-in-chief , and won distinction by his valor. 

The second expedition under Governor Shirley advanced as 
far as Oswego, but the season getting late, it was postponed 
until the next year. 

The third expedition under General Johnson met and de- 
feated a large French and Indian force at Lake George. In the 
engagement Baron Dieskau, the French commander, was mor- 
tally wounded. The English established a fort called Fort 
Edward, and another at the south end of Lake George called 



28 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Fort William Henry. The French took possession of Ticon- 
deroga and fortified it. 

The Governor of South Carolina made a treaty with the 
Cherokees, by which they ceded a large tract of territory to the 
Xing of Great Britain, and agreed to move further inland away 
from the English settlements. 

The first newspa])er published in Connecticut was issued at 
New Haven, and called the Connecticut Gazette. 

The first newspaper issued in North Carolina was published 
in December at Newburn, and called the North Carolina 
Gazette. 

At this period New England contained a population of about 
four hundred and thirty-five thousand. 

1756 The French under General Montcalm captured the English 
forts at and near Oswego, with 1400 men as prisoners. 

The first newspaper published in New Hampshire was issued 
on the 7th of October at Portsmouth, and called The New 
Hampshire Gazette. 

The first permanent settlement in the territory since formed 
into the State of Tennesee was made this year on the Tenne- 
see River, about thirty miles from the site of Knoxville. 

1757 AFrench army of 9000 men laid siege to Fort William Henry, 
in New York, and compelled its surrender, with between 2000 
and 8000 of the garrison as prisoners. 

At^this time the French in Louisiana numbered about ten 
thousand. 

The city of New York contained about 12,000 inhabitants, 
and Philadelphia about 13,000. 

1758 The English formed an expedition against the French fortress 
of Louisburg, on the island of Cape Breton. The place capitu- 
lated, and 5600 men were taken prisoners and carried away to 
England. 

The English under General Abercrombie, in an expedition 
against the French at Ticonderoga, were defeated, with a loss 
of nearly two thousand men killed and wounded. 

The English under Colonel Bradstreet captured the French 
fort Frontenac, with a large amount of provisions and military 
stores. 

An English army under General Forbes attacked the French 
fort Du Quesne and captured it. He changed its name to Fort 
Pitt. 

Virginia exported this year 70,000 hogsheads of tobacco. 

1759 The English under General Amherst captured the French 
forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point; and under General 
Johnson, the French fort at Niagara. 

An English army of 8000 men under General Wolfe laid 
siege to Quebec, captured the place, killed one thousand of the 
enemy, and took as many prisoners. General Wolfe was mort- 
ally wounded, and about 600 of his men were killed or wounded. 

1760 A large army under the command of General Amherst, com- 
bined with the army from Quebec, compelled the capitulation 
of all Canada to the King of England. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 29 

Georgia issued £7410 in paper money this year. 

A conflagration destroyed about one tenth part of the town 
of Boston on the 20th of March. 

A war with the Cherokees broke out in Carolina and Georgia, 
and continued until the next year, when the Indians were com- 
pletely subjugated. 
1761 At this time there were about six hundred and fifty slaves in 
Newport, R. I. 

The first newspaper issued in Delaware was published at 
Wilmington, and titled The Wilmington Oazette. 

In Massachusetts disputes arose between the people and the 
the royal authorities concerning a proposed arbitrary method 
of collecting customs, which increased the bitter feelings exist- 
ing against the government. 
1763 The first newspaper published in Pro\idence was issued this 
year, under the name of The Providence Gazette. 

The first printing-press in Georgia Avas set up in Savannah. 

1763 A treaty of peace between France, Spain, and England was 
signed at Paris on the 10th of February. By this treaty, Ca- 
nada, Nova Scotia, and the island of Cape Bieton were to be- 
long to Great Britain ; France relinquished her claims to all 
territory east of the Mississippi, and was confirmed in her right 
to the country west of that river ; Spain ceded to Great Britain 
Florida and all its title to territory east of the Mississippi. 

The Oeorgia Oazette issued its first number at Savannah on 
the 17th of April. This was the first and only newspaper pub- 
lished in Georgia before the Revolution. 

A ferry was now established between New York and Paulus 
Hook, since called Jersey Cit}^ 

1764 The English House of Commons voted that the government 
had the right to tax the American colonists without their being- 
represented in parliament; and passed an act imposing certain 
duties in America, with severe penalties attached for non-pay 
ment. The sentiment expressed in this act caused great dis- 
satisfaction in America, and protests against it were forwarded 
to England. 

The Legislature of South Carolina offered large bounties in 
land as an encouragement to settlers; and, in consequence, 
large numbers of Germans, French Protestants, and poor peo- 
ple from England and Scotland emigrated to that province. 

By a treaty concluded between Spain and France, all of 
Louisiana was ceded to Spain. 

St. Louis was laid out in town-lots, and its settlement com- 
menced. 

The first newspaper published in Hartford, and the fourth in 
Connecticut, was issued on the 29th of October, and called the 
Connecticut Courant. 

1765 In the beginning of this year the English Parliament passed 
an act for raising a revenue, by a general stamp-duty, through- 
out all the American colonies. The Legislature of Virginia 
was in session when intelligence of the passage of that act was 
received, and it passed several spirited resolutions, asserting 



30 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

colonial rights, and denying the right of taxation in America 
by parliament. The Legislature of Massachusetts passed simi- 
lar resolutions, and proposed that a general congress of all the 
colonies should be convened. In pursuance of that resolution 
delegates from nearly all the colonies assembled at the city of 
New Yorlv on the 7th of October. This congress declared 
that the colonies had the exclusive power of taxation in their 
territories, and resolved to petition the king, and send a me- 
morial on the subject to each of the houses of parliament, and 
recommended the several colonies to appoint special agents to 
present their grievances to the king. About the 1st of No- 
vember, on which day the Stamp Act was to go into operation, 
tumults occurred in Boston, and great excitement prevailed 
throughout the colonies, and, in some, associations were formed, 
styled " Sons of Liberty," for mutual support and resistance. 

Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania, was laid out, and its settlement 
commenced. 

1766 The decided opposition of the American colonies to the 
Stamp Act, and the eloquent appeals of their advocates in the 
House of Commons, induced parliament to repeal the obnox- 
ious measure. News of the repeal excited great satisfaction in 
America, where it was celebrated by the ringing of bells, fire- 
works, and? festivals. 

Louisiana contained at this time a population of five thousand 
five hundred whites and five thousand nine hundred negroes. 

The Methodist Episcopal Society in the United States had its 
origin in a society founded by Philip Embury, this year, in his 
own house at New York. 

1767 The project of taxing the colonies was resumed by the English 
Government. Parliament passed an act, imposing a duty to be 
paid by the colonists on paper, glass, painters' colors, and teas 
imported into the colonics. This act met similar, opposition in 
America to that of the Stamp Act. It called forth resolves, 
petitions, addi'esses, and remonstrances fi'om the inhabitants. 

The Connecticut Journal and JVew Haven Post Boy appeared 
at New Haven in October. The last part of the name was 
dropped in 1775. 

1768 In August the Boston merchants and traders generally sub- 
scribed a paper, in which they engaged not to import nor to 
purchase any kind of goods or merchandise imported from 
Great Britain during the whole of the ne3ct year, excepting a 
few enumerated articles. The merchants of Salem, Conned i- 
cut, and New York entered into similar agreements. 

In the latter part of September a large number of British 
soldiers arrived at Boston to protect the revenue ofiicers in the 
collection of duties, which gave the place every appearance of 
a garrisoned town. 

The first paper-mill established in Connecticut was erected at 
Norwich. 

Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, was incorporated. 

Philadelphia contained at this time 4474 houses. 

The settlement of Bangor, in Maine, was commenced. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 31 

The second theatre in New York was opened, on Beekman 
Street, near Nassau Street. The street since named in honor of 
Robert FuUon was at this time known as Beelvman Street. 

1770 On the 5th of March, some British soldiers, being insulted by 
the populace in the streets of Boston, fired into the crowd, killed 
three persons, and dangerously wounded five others, causing 
great commotion and indignation in the community. 

The Massachusetts Spy appeared in Boston in Jul}'. It was 
removed temporarily to Worcester in 1775. 

The New York Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1768, 
was incorporated by the legislature. 

The first manufacture of thiware in this country was com- 
menced about this time in Berlin, Connecticut. 

1771 The first newspaper published in Albany was issued in 
November, under the title of The Albany Gazette. 

Some of the inhabitants of North Carolina, complaining of 
oppressions practised in the law and by the judicial court, rose 
in arms, to the number of about fifteen hundred, under the 
name of regulators, for the purpose of shutting up the courts 
of justice, opposing the officers of government and all lawyers, 
and of prostrating government itself. The governor marched 
against them with about one thousand militia, and in a battle on 
the 16th of May totally defeated them. Three hundred of the 
regulators were killed on the field, twelve more of the in- 
surgents were tried and condemned for high treason, and six 
of them were executed. 

1772 Umbrellas were now first introduced into this country. They 
were imported from India and landed at Baltimore, and at first 
were scouted as an effeminacy. 

The colonists of Rho le Island made a daring resistance of 
encroachments. The Gaspee, an armed schooner which had been 
stationed at Providence, excited much resentment by firing 
at the packets to oblige their masters to haul down their colors 
as a salute, and upon their refusal chasing the vessels into the 
docks. A packet coming up to Providence with passengers, 
refusing to paj' that tribute of respect, was fired at by the 
Gaspee, and chased. The packet led the Gaspee into low- water, 
where that vessel was grounded, and the packet proceeded on 
her way to Providence, where a plan was laid to destroy the 
obnoxious vessel. Several whale-boats were manned with 
armed men in the night, and proceeded to the vessel. The 
commander and his crew, with their personal effects, were put 
ashore, and the Gaspee with all her stores was burned. A large 
reward was offered by the government for the detection of the 
perpetrators of the deed, but they could not be discovered. 

1773 The British Government, being unable to obtain any revenue 
from duties on tea shipped to America, because it could not be 
sold, resolved to accomplish by policy what was found to be 
impracticable from restraint. It effected an arrangement with 
the East India Company, whose warehouses were overstocked 
with that article for want of a market, by which shipments of 
tea could be sold to the colonists at prices with the duties les;; 



32 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

thau had been charged before duties were imposed. The 
colonists, however, continued in tlieir determination to firmly 
adhere to their principles, and not be taxed in any manner 
whatsoever without their own consent. It was the prevailing- 
sentiment throughout the countrj^, tliat this new plan of the 
government was a direct attack on the liberties of the people, 
which was the duty of all to oppose. The East India Com- 
pany, confident of finding a market for their tea, reduced as it 
now was in price, freighted several ships to America with that 
commodity, and appointed agents for the disposal of it. Cargoes 
were sent to Xew York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Charles- 
ton, S. C. The inhabitants of Kew York and Philadelphia 
sent them back to London. The tea at Charleston was stored 
in cellars, where it could not be used, and where it finally 
perished. In Boston, a number of armed men disguised as 
Indians boarded the ships and threw their whole cargoes into 
the sea. 

The settlement of the territory afterward comprised within 
the State of Kentucky, was commenced, by the emigration there 
of Daniel Boone accompanied with several families. 

The English settlements on the east side of tlie Mississippi 
River, in the Natchez country, were increased by emigrations in 
June and July of about four hundred families. 

About three hundred families of Germans removed from 
Maine, and settled in the south-western part of South Carolina. 
Within one year six thousand negro slaves were imported 
into South Carolina. 

The first newspaper pid)lished in Baltimore was issued on 
the 20th of August, under the title of The Maryland Journal 
and BalUmm^e Advertiser. 

The first steam engine constmcted in America was built at 
Philadelphia. 
1774 Intelligence of the destruction of the tea at Boston was oflBcially 
declared to parliament by the king, and he represented in his 
communication that the conduct of the colonists was not merely 
an obstruction to the commerce of Great Britain, but as subver- 
sive of the British constitution. In accordance with that senti- 
ment, parliament passed an act by which the port of Boston was 
declared to be legally closed, and another act by which the 
charter of Massachusetts was altered so as to essentially abridge 
the liberties of the people. In the apprehension that in the exe- 
cution of these acts riots would take place, and that trials for 
murders committed in suppressing them would be partially de- 
cided bj' the colonial courts, another act was passed declar 
ing that if any person were indicted for any capital offence 
committed in aiding magistracy in Massachusetts, the governor 
might send the person so indicted to Nova Scotia or to Great 
Britain for trial. General Gage was appointed governor of 
Massachusetts as the most proper person to see to the execution 
of the laws respecting that colony and its capital, and he arrived 
at Boston on the 13th of Miy. On the 1st of June, the day 
designated when tbe Port Bill should go into operation, busi- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATE3. 33 

ness was closed in that city, and the harbor shut up against all 
vessels. In sympathy with the inhabitants of that city, the day 
was observed in many of the colonies as a day of fasting and 
mourning, and subscriptions were set on foot for such poor in- 
habitants as should be deprived of the means of subsistence by 
the operation of the act. 

The necessity of a General Congress was now perceived 
throughout the colonies, and that measure was adopted by every 
colony from New Hampshire to South Carolina. On the 4th 
of September delegates from eleven colonies appeared at Phila- 
delphia, and the next day, having formed themselves into a 
congress, chose Peyton Randolph president, and Charles 
Thompson secretary. A declaration of rights was soon agreed 
on, the several acts infringing and violating those rights reciteil, 
and the repeal of them resolved to be essentially necessary to . 
the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colo- 
nies. A non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation 
agreement was adopted. On the 14th of September deputies 
from North Carolina arrived and joined the congress. In Octo- 
ber an address was prepared to the king and the peo])Ie of 
Great Britain, and forwarded to the colonial agents established 
there. 

In the mean time the people of Boston were further incensed 
by the arrival there of numerous British troops and proceedings 
instituted by General Gage. 

Toward the close of the year news arrived of a proclamation 
of the king prohibiting the exportation of military stores to 
America. The people of Rhode Island immediately secured 
to themselves from the public battery about forty cannon, and 
the legislature passed resolutions for obtaining arms and mili- 
tary stores and for arming the inhabitants. In New Hampshire 
the colonists took forcible possession of the fort at the entrance 
of Portsmouth harbor, and carried away upwards of one hun- 
dred barrels of powder. 

Parliament voted to dismiss Benjamin Franklin from his 
office of deputy postmaster-general in America, because of his 
sympathy with the measures of the colonists. 

The Creek and Cherokee Indians ceded to the King of Great 
Britain several millions of acres of land in Georgia. 

The Indians on the Ohio having become hostile, the Gov- 
ernor of Virginia sent about fourteen hundred troops into that 
country. In a battle which took place on the 10th of October 
the troops were defeated, with a loss of four hundred killed and 
one hundred wounded. 

At this time there were 6464 negi-oes in Connecticut and 
3761 in Rhode Island. 

The streets of Boston for the first time were lighted with 
lamps. 

The first dwelling-house in Kentucky was erected this year, 
on or near the site of the town of Harrodsburg. 
1775 The British Government continued its coercive measures 
against the American colonies, notwithstanding the opposition 



34 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

of some of the most eminent members of parliament. The 
petition from congress to tlie king had been referred bj' him 
to the House of Commons, which body refused to hear and 
discuss it by a large majority. Bills were passed restraining 
the trade of New England, and to prohibit the colonists from 
engaging in fishery on the banks of Newfoundland. Acts were 
passed soon after restraining trade and commerce in some of 
the Middle and Southern colonies. 

In the colonies preparations for defence in case of hostilities 
were made in all parts. In Massachusetts a rupture was im- 
minent at any time, and the people of Boston were so exasper- 
ated that they were ready for open war. The occasion soon 
arrived. A quantity of militar}' stores were stored at Concord, a 
place about eighteen miles inland from Boston. General Gage 
on the 19th of April sent about eight hundred British troops lo 
destroy them. On the arrival of the soldiers at Lexington, 
they met about seventy armed colonists, who were ordered to 
disperse by the British officer. Upon their not obeying this 
order instantly, he directed his troops to fire upon them. This 
order was obeyed, and eight of the colonists were killed and 
several wounded ; the rest dispersed. The tiring continued 
after the dispersion, and the fugitives stopped and returned the 
tire. The British detachment proceeded to Concord. The in- 
habitants of that town having received the alarm, drew up in 
order for defence, but observing the number of tlie British 
troops, they retired and waited for reinforcements. A party of 
light infantry followed them, while the main body proceeded to 
execute their commission. They disabled cannon, threw five 
hundred pounds of ball into the river and wells, and broke in 
pieces about sixty barrels of flour. In the mean time a skir- 
mish ensued between the colonists and the light infantry, and 
the British troops were forced to retreat with some loss. " They 
were soon joined by the main body, and the detachment re- 
treated with precipitanc}'. All the people of the adjacent 
country were by this time in arms, and the}' attacked the re- 
treating troops in every direction until they drew near to Bos- 
ton. The battle at Lexington was a signal of war. The forts, 
magazines, and arsenals throughout the colonies were instantly 
secured by the people. Regular forces were raised, and 
money issued for their support. An army of twenty thousand 
men appeared in the environs of Boston7nnd formed an em- 
campment from Roxbury to the Mystic River. This aimy was 
•soon increased by a large body of troops from Connecticut ; 
and by these collective forces the king's troops were closely 
blocked up in the peninsula of Boston. 

It was soon perceived by the colonists that the possession of 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point would be of gi-eat importance. 
An expedition consisting of about two hundred and thirty men 
from New Hampshire Grants under Colonel Ethan Allen, 

J'oined with a small body of Connecticut militia under Colonel 
Jenedict Arnold, proceeded on that enterpri.se. On the lOlh of 
May they surprised the fort at Ticonderoga garrisoned by 



HISTORY OF J-HE UXITED STATES. 35 

British soldiers, and compelled its surrender, with many valu- 
able stores. Crown Point was taken soon afterward, and the 
command of Lakes George and Champlain secured by the 
colonists. 

Toward the end of May a considerable force of British troops 
arrived at Boston from England, and about the same time 
Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, who had gained con- 
siderable reputation in preceding wars. The movements of the 
Britisli army excited an apprehension that General Gage in- 
tended to penetrate into the country. It was therefore ordered 
by congress that measures should be taken for the defence of 
Dorchester Neck, and to occupy Bunker Hill. This hill, which 
is high and commanding, stands at the entrance of the ]K'ninsula 
of Charlestown. Orders were accordingly issued on the IGth 
of June for a detachment of one thousand men to take posses- 
sion of that eminence, but by some mistake Breed's Hill was 
marked out instead of Bunker Hill for the projected intrench- 
meiits. About nine in the evening the detachment moved from 
Cambridire, and passing silently ovei- Charle-lown Neck, 
ascended Breed's Hill and reached the top without being ob- 
served. The Americans immedi-^itely commenced their work, 
and la1)ored with such diligence that by dawn of day they had 
thrown up a redoubt about eight rods square,'. At break of 
day the work was discovered in Boston, and General Gage de- 
spatched thirty companies of troops with artillery to dislodge 
the Americans, but they perceiving that the hill was well forti- 
fied concluded to await reinforcements fr-)in Boston. Mean- 
while the Americans were reinforced, and they awaited the as- 
sault. The battle soon commenced. The British were twice 
repulsed with great loss, and driven 'oaek in confusion. Upon 
u third attack the ammunition of the Americans gave out and 
a retreat was ordered, after an obstinate resistance with their 
baj'onets. Meanwhile the British set fire to the village of 
Charlestown and destroyed about four hundred houses. In the 
engagement the British employed about three thousand men, 
and lost in killed and wounded 1().')4; the number of Americans 
engage:! was about fifteen hundred, and their loss was 453. 

On the 10th of Maj' a second Continental Congress met at 
Philadelphia, and voted that 20,000 men should be immediately 
raised and equipped, and unanimously chose George Washing- 
ton, who was then a delegate from Virginia, to be commander- 
in-chief of all the continental forces. It was also voted to 
issue bills of credit to the amount of three millions of Spanish 
dollars to help defray the expenses of the war. On the 2d of 
July General Washington arfived at Cambridge and took com- 
mand of the American armj*. 

Two expeditious against the British in Canada were organ- 
ized: one under General Montgomery captured Montreal, took 
a large numlter as prisoners, and secured considerable valuable 
property, and thence proceeded to Quebec. The other expedi- 
tion unfler the command of Benedict Arnold marched through 
the wilderness of Maine and Canada, and joined the forces of 



36 HISTORY OF THI^ UKITED STATES. 

Montgomery before Quebec. On the last day of the year an 
assault was made on that place, in which General Montgomery 
was killed. 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut each armed 
and equipped two vessels to operate against the enemy. Con- 
gress also resolved to equip an armament of thirteen vessels. 
On the 29th of November an American privateer captured 
three ships from London, Glasgow, and Liverpool, containing 
military stores for the British army. 

Congress voted that a line of posts should be established 
from Maine to Georgia, and appointed Benjamin Franklin ^^ 

Postmaster-General. ; 

Colonel Moultrie, of the South Carolina militia, took posses- 
sion of Fort Johnson, on St. James' Island, in September. 

A British ship, with other armed cruisers, sailed into the har- 
bor of Bristol, R. L, on the 7th of October, and fired upon the 
town, doing great damage to tlie place. On tlie 10th of De- 
cember they destroyed the buildings on Conanicut Island. 

In July a great number of the chiefs and warriors of the Six 
Confederate Nations assembled in Montreal, and agreed to sup- 
port the cause of the king. 

In the autumn General Gage sailed for England, and the 
command of the British army devolved upon Sir William 
Howe. 

The first anti-slavery society in America was formed in Phil- 
adelphia on the 14th of April, and was composed mostly of 
Quakers. 
1776 The measures of the British Government accelerated an event 
which, if anticipated and wished for by a few of the colonists, 
had not hitherto been generally desired. Independence was 
not the object of the controversy on the part of the colonies, 
but constitutional liberty. During the last session of parlia- 
ment the ultimate i)lan lor reducing the colonies was fixed. 
The Americans were declared out of tht; royal protection, and 
seventeen thousand foreign mercenaries Avere to be employed to 
aid in their subjugation. On the 7th of June a motion was 
made in congress for declaring the colonies free and independ- 
ent. After a full discussion, on the 4th of July the measure 
was approved by nearly an unanimous vote. The Declaration 
of Independence concluded with these words: "We, there- 
fore, the representatives of the United States of America, in 
General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge 
of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the 
name and by authority of the good people of these colonies, 
solemnly declare that these United Colonies are, and of right 

ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they 

are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and 
that all political connection 1)ctwecn them and the State of 
Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as 
free and independent States they have full power to levy war, 
conclude peace, contract alliances, estr^blish commerce, and to 
do all other acts and things which independent States ought to 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 37 

do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reli- 
ance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually 
pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, aud our sacred 
honor." 

Since the arrival of General Washington at Cambridge, his 
time had been principally engaged in organizing an army out of 
new recruits, and in efforts to provide them with ammunition 
and suitable clothing. The time of the first volunteers had ex- 
pired, and the army had disbanded. The effective regular 
force of the Americans in February was a little over fourteen 
thousand men; in addition to which about six thousand of the 
militia of Massachusetts were at the disposal of the Comman- 
der-in-Chief. With these troops he determined to take posses- 
sion of Dorchester Heights, whence it would be in his power 
greatly to annoy the enemy's ships in the harbor and the troops 
in the town. To conceal his design aud to divert the attention 
of the garrison, a heavy bombardment of the town and lines of 
the enemy was begun on the evening of the 3d of March, and 
repeated the two succeeding nights. On the night of the 
4th, immediately after the firing begim, he directed a considera- 
ble detachment to take possession of the Heights. This was 
silently accomplished, and by working all night, works were 
constructed that wcnild protect them in a measure from the 
shot of the enemy. When the British at daybreak discovered 
this undertaking, they became aware that they must either dis- 
lodge the Americans or evacuate Boston. They chose the lat- 
ter alternative. A fortnight elapsed before that measure was 
effected. On the 17th of March the last of the British em- 
barked in their ships and sailed away; and General Washington 
marched into the town, where he was joyfully received as a de- 
liverer. 

General Arnold contiuued the blockade of Quebec, but in a 
council of war it was unanimously determined that the troops 
were in no condition to make an assault and the armj' was re- 
moved to a more defensible position. The Canadians at this 
juncture receiving considerable reinforcements, the Americans 
were compel led to relinquish one post after another, until by 
the 18th of June they evacuated Canada altogether. 

The British, in their projected campaign of this j'ear, pro- 
posed two objects : one to make an attack on some of the soutli- 
ern colonies ; the other was to talce possession of New York. 
The execution of the first was committed to General Clinton 
and Sir Peter Parker ; that of the latter to Sir William Howe 
and his brother, Admiral Lord How^e. On the 28th of June 
the British forces made an attack on the fi^rt on Sullivan's 
Island in the harbor of Charleston, S. C. The bombardment 
continued upward of ten hours, when the enterprise was aban- 
doned. The British lost more than two hundred men in killed 
and wounded ; the Americans, thirty-two. In honor of the 
commander of the fort, its name was now changed to Fort 
Moultrie. 

General Washington, assuming that the British would majie 



38 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

an attempt upon New York, removed the greater part of his 
army to that city soon after the evacuation of Boston by the 
enemy. General Howe, with the force which lie had com- 
manded in Boston, arrived at Sandy Hook on the 25th of June, 
and in less than three weeks was joined by his brother, the Ad- 
miral, with reinforcements from England. Scon afterward 
the British forces were augmented by the arrival of General 
Clinton and his troops from Charleston, and another reinforce 
ment from England of Hessian and other foreign soldiers. The 
number of the British forces then amounted to about twenty 
four thousand men. The British commanders, having resolved 
to make their first attempt on Long Island, landed their forces 
on the 22d of August at Gravesend Bay The Americans, to 
the amount of fifteen thousand men, under General Sullivan, 
were posted on a peninsula of Long Island opposite New Yojk. 
Here the.y had erected strong fortifications and a line of in- 
trenchments inclosing a large tract of ground near the village 
of Brooklyn, within which stood the American camp. On the 
27th of August an engagement took place between portions of 
the armies, in whicli the Americans were defeated, and the 
enemy encamped within six hundred yards of the Ameiican 
lines. On the 30th, as the American army appeared to be in 
a critical position, and the Biitish licet indicated an intention 
to force a passage into the East River, it was determined to re- 
treat from Long Island, and cross to New York. This difllcult 
movement was accomplished with success. It was now deemed 
prudent, in a council of war called by General Washington, that 
the army should evacuate the city. This was accomplished, 
although all the heavy artillery and a large portion of the bag- 
gage and military stores were unavoidably left behind and 
aI)andoued to the enemy. General Washington now relreateil 
to the upper part of New York island, the British having en- 
tered and taken possession of the city. A demonstration was 
soon made by the enemy to get in the rear of the Americans, 
who thereupon retreated into Westchester ; General Washing- 
ton first a.ssigning about three thousand men for the defence of 
Fort Washington, near the junction of Hudson and Hailem 
I'ivers. At White Plains a battle was fought on the 21-th of 
October, with the loss of several hundred men on erx-h side ; 
and soon afterwards the Americans retreated to the heights of 
North Castle, about five miles beyond "WTiite Plains. " Here 
they were in so strong a position, General Howe decided to 
change the plan of his operations. General Washington, leav- 
ing about seventy-five hundred men at North Ca.'^tle under Gen- 
eral Lee, crossed' over to New Jersey with the rcmninder of his 
troops, and encamped in the neighborhood of Fort Lee. Sir 
AYilliam Howe now determined upon the reduction of Fort 
Washington, where he shortly appeared and niiide an attack, 
and on the 16th of November compelled its surrender with all 
the garrison. Soon afterward, the British crossed the liver to 
attack Fort Lee, which they look without assault, the Ameri- 
cans evacuating the place upon their approach. They im- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 39 

mediately started in pursuit of General Washington, who re- 
treated from place to place in New Jersey, and crossed the 
Delaware into Pennsylvania, opposite Trenton. 

On the day of General Washington's retreat across the Dela- 
ware a portion of the British forces made a descent on Rhode 
Island, and took possession of the bay, blocking up the ports of 
that Stale. 

Fearing that Philadelphia and its neighborhood would nou- 
become the seat of war, congress removed from that place and 
established itself at Baltimore. 

The American army having been reinforced, General Wash- 
ington resolved to recross the Delaware and surprise the British 
atTrentou. On the night of the 25th of December he accom- 
jjlished that purpose, and on the next day routed the enemj- and 
tDok about one thousand ]irisoners, together with a large amount 
of arms and military stores. 

After the retreat of the Americans from Long Island, Nathan 
Hale, a captain in the American army, passed in disguise to 
that island, examined every part of the British armj- stationed 
there, and obtained intelligence of its situation and intended 
operations. Upon returning his purposes were discovered, and 
he was apprehended and executed as a spy. 

On the tirst day of this year a British tleet attacked the town 
of Norfolk, in Virginia, and destroyed the place. 

On the 27th of February a large party of Americans in North 
Carolina attached to the royal cause were defeated in an en- 
gagement with the militia, and lost a large amount of ammuni- 
tion and military stores. This defeat prevented further efforts 
on the part of the royalists in that State. 

On the 11th of October there was a severe naval engagement 
on Lake Champlain, which lasted four hours; one of the Ameri- 
can vessels ^vas destroj^ed, and the others retired to Crown 
Point. 

Tlie Cherokee Indians commenced a war in South Carolina in 
July, which lasted three months. The Indians were defeated, 
and all their settlements destroyed east of the mountains. 

A conflagration occurred in New York on the 31st of Sep- 
tember, and destroyed four hundred and ninety -three buildings, 
including Trinity Church. 

In the spring of this year New York was supplied with 
water conveyed through pipes in the streets. A reservoir was 
constructed on the east side of Broadway, near Pearl Street, 
into which water was raised by pumping from wells sunk on 
the premises and from the Collect pond. 

The tirst permanent settlement in California, was made this 
year by Catholic missionaries, near the site of San Francisco. 
Soon afterward a few houses were erected on the site of the 
city, and this settlement was called Yerba Buena. 
1777 The Americans had hitherto been very delicient in arms and 
ammunition, but in the spring of this year a ship arrived at 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from France, with upward of 
eleven thousand stand of arms and one thousand barrels of gun- 



40 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

powder, aucl about the same time ten thoiisaud stand of arms 
aiTived at anotherport. 

The operations of the army under General Washington 
during this year were confined to New Jersey and Pennsylva 
nia. The British were driven out of New Jersey, and they 
then formed the plan of taking possession of Philadelphia, by 
an approach by the way of Chesapeake Bay. In August, Sir 
William How'e sailed from the harbor of New York, with six- 
teen thousand men, and arrived on the 24th at the head of Elk 
River, in Marjiand, near the borders of Delaware. Thence the 
aimy marched in two columns toward Philadelphia. On the 
11th of September, the British approached the American army, 
which was posted on the Brandy wine River, and in an engage- 
ment defeated them with considerable loss, and compelled them 
to retreat. On the next day General Washington entered Phila- 
delphia. On the 19th, the Americans crossed the Schuylkill, 
r.ud encamped on the eastern bank of that river, while detach- 
ments of the army were posted at the several fords over which 
tie enemy would probably attempt a passage. In the night of 
tbe 20th, General Wayne, who with fifteen hundred Americans 
had concealed himself in the woods w ith the intention of har- 
assing the rear of the Biitish army, was surprised by the enemy 
and lost about three hundred men. On the 23d, Sir William 
Howe, having secured the command of the Schuylkill, crossed 
it Avith his wliole army, and on the 26th he advanced to Ger- 
mantown, and on the su( cecding day took peaceable possession 
of Philadelphia. The American army being reinforced, now- 
amounting to about eleveir thousand men, tcok a position on 
the east side of the Scl uylkill and about sixteen miles from 
Germantown. At this last i^lace lay tbe main body of the Brit- 
ish army. While General Howe was cccupied in reducing the 
forts on the Delaware so as to secure a safe passage for the Brit- 
ish fleet, General Washington formed apian to surprise his armv 
at Germantown. This attempt Avas unsuccessful, and the 
Americans suffered in a battle that took place a loss of about 
twelve hundred men. The campaign in Pennsylvania ended 
for the season soon afterward, and General Washington retired 
to winter quarters at Valley Forge and the British to Phila- 
delphia. 

While General Washington was conducting the war in New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania, events of greafimportance transpired 
in the North. A principal object of the British in the cam- 
paign of this year was to open a free communication between 
New York and Canada, with the hope that by affecting that 
object, New England might be severed from the other States 
and compelled to submission. In prosecution of this design, 
an army of British and German troops, amounting to a little 
over seven thousand men, exclusive of a corps of artillery, 
was put under the command of General Burgoyne, avIio was to 
advance from Canada by the way of Lake Cbam]ilain, and 
force his way to Albanj^, or so far as to effect a junction with 
the royal troops which were to advance from the city of New 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 41 

York. Another body of British troops under the command of 
Col. St. Leger, with a largo force of Indians and a regiment of 
New York loyalists, were to ascend the St. Lawrence to Lake 
Ontario, and from that quarter to penetrate towards Albany by 
the way of the Mohawk River. Before the campaign was 
opened, the British dispatched two expeditions for the destruc- 
tion of military stores deposited by the Americans at Peekskill 
and Danbury. At Peekskill they captured a large amount of 
provisions, forage, and other valuable property. At Danbury, 
the British destroyed eigiiteeu houses, 800 barrels of pork and 
beef, 800 barrels of Hour, 2000 bushels of grain, and 1700 tents. 
These predatory excursions were not long after retaliated. On 
the 33d of May a body of Connecticut troops crossed the Sound 
and surprised the town of Sag Harbor, on Long Island, and 
burned a large amount of forage which had been collected 
there for the British army. Twefve vessels were also destroyed. 
General Burgoyne proceeded up Lake Champlain on the 20th 
of June and landed near Crown Point, where he was leinforced 
by a large number of Indians. Upon the approach of the 
British, the Americans evacuated Fort Ticonderoga, and the 
enemy took possession. A few days afterward a considerable 
detachment of the British army met and defta.td an inferior 
force of the Americans, who sull'ered a loss of about one thou- 
sand men in the engagement. On the 80th of July General 
Burgoyne reached Fort Edward, and the American army under 
General Schuyler crossed the Hudson and took position at 
Saratoga. Meanwhile the army under St. Leger had ascended 
the St. Lawrence and arrived at Lake Ontario, and with an 
army of about eighteen hundred meji, on the 3d of August 
invested Fort Schuyler, at the head of the Mohauk River. 
This fortress was gari-isoned by about six hundred American 
troops. On the tirst approach of the British troops. General 
Herkimer, who conunanded the American militia in that 
neighborhood, assembled them in considerable force for the 
relief of the garrison. St. Leger receiving information of his 
approach, sent out a strong detachment of regulars and Indians, 
to waylay him on the road by which he was to march. Herkimer 
fell into this ambuscade, and his men were defeated with great 
slaughter. His loss was estimated at about four hundred men. 
General Arnold was now dispatched with a brigade of troops 
to attack St. Leger ; but his force being inferior to the British, 
he resolved to accomplish by strategy what he could not expect 
to do by force. He sent a spy into the British camp to spread 
the news of an exaggerated account of the size of his army. 
The stratagem was successful ; the Indians Heil, and St. Leger 
decamped in confusion and returned to Montreal, leaving be- 
hind him his tents and most of his artillery and stores. About 
the same tirae General Burgoyne dispatched about six hun- 
dred of his German troops, and soon afterwards another body of 
five hundred men, to Bennington, a town in the New Hamj)- 
shire Grants, for the purpose of seizing a large depot of pro- 
visions and carriages stored there for the northern armv. On 



42 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

the 16th of August these forces were attacked by General 
Stark, who was on his march with about sixteen hundred men, 
to join the northern army. The British were defeated, and 
suffered a loss of more than one half their forces, besides a large 
amount of arms. General Burgoyne having collected about 
thirty days' provisions and thrown a bridge of boats across the 
Hudson, crossed that river on the 13th and 14th of September, 
and encamped on the heights and plains of Saratoga. General 
Gates, who had recently taken the chief command of the north- 
ern department of the American army, advanced towards the 
enemy and encamped three miles above Stillwater. On the 
night of the 17th General Burgoyne encamped within four 
miles of the American army, and on the 19th advanced in full 
force against it. An engagement took place, in which a consid- 
erable portion of the armies took part. Each side suffered a 
loss of about six hundred men. Both annies lay for some 
time in sight of each other, the British being daily reduced by 
desertions of the Indians, and the American army continually 
augmented by reinforcements. To aggravate bis distress, no 
intelligence had yet been received of any diversion in his 
favor from the army at New York. In this emergency 
General Burgoyne made preparations to effect a retreat to the 
lakes by dislodging the Americans from their posts on the left. 
In this attempt he met with defeat and a loss of several hun- 
dred men, including some of his most valuable officers ; also a 
loss of nine pieces of artillery, and the encampment of a Ger- 
man brigade with all their equipage. General Gates now 
posted tifteen hundred men on the heights opposite the ford in 
Saratoga, two thousand in the roar to prevent a retreat to Fort 
Edward, and fifteen hundred at a ford higher up. The British 
were now almost encircled ; the Americans, already superior in 
numbers, were daily reinforced, and there seemed to be no 
avenue for Burgoj^ne to escape. In this dilemma the British 
commander called a council of Avar, in which it was unani- 
mously resolved to enter into a convention with General Gates. 
Preliminaries were soon settled, and the royal army surrendered 
prisoners of war. The whole number that surrendered were 
5753. Besides these, there were left 528 of sick and wounded in 
the British camp when Burgoyne began his retreat. At the 
same time there were taken 3*9 l^rass cannon, 5000 stand of 
arms, 400 sets of harness, and a considerable amount of other 
military propertj\ The British lost between the 6th of Julj' 
and the 16th of October, in killed, wounded, and desertions, 
nearly three thousand men. Soon afterward the British aban- 
doned Ticonderoga, which post was then immediately occupied 
by the Americans. 

Although Sir Henry Clinton afforded no relief to General 
Burgoyne, he succeeded in capturing Forts Clinton and Mont- 
gomerj' on the Hudson Kiver in October, which if done earlier 
might possibly have had that effect. 

On the 15th of November the thirteen States by their repre- 
sentatives in congress entered into Articles of Confederation. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 43 

By these articles the style of the confederacy was to be " The 
United States of America," and each State was to retain its 
sovereignty and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, 
and right which was not expressly delegated to the confedera. 
tion. A tirm league was entered into, by which the States were 
to be united for the common defence and for securing their 
liberties and mutual and general welfare. These articles were 
to be submitted to the legislatures of the several States for their 
approval and ratitication. 

Congress resolved that the flag of the confederacy should be 
of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, and that the Union 
be thirteen white stars in a blue field. 

Congress resolved to appoint the Marquis de la Fayette, who 
oflfered his services to the cause, to the rank of major-general 
in the army of the United States. 

The first newspaper published in New Jersey was issued at 
Burlington on the 3d of December, and called the New Jersey 
Gazette. 

Cold-cut iron nails were now manufactured at Cumberland, 
R. I., and it is said these were the first made in this or any 
other country. 
1778 The success of the Americans in the northern campaign of 
the last year rendered it less difficult to secure foreign aid and 
influence. A plan of treaty to be proposed to foreign powers 
had been formed by congress, and commissioners were sent 
to Paris to solicit its acceptance by the Kmg of France. For 
more than a year they were kept in a state of uncertainty. 
They received private encouragement, but could obtain no 
public acknowledgment. The capture of Burgoyne fixed the 
wavering policy of the French court, and on the 6th of Febru- 
ary the King of France entered into a treaty of alliance with 
the United States, in which it was declared that if war should 
break out between France and England during the existence of 
that with the United States, it should be made a common cause, 
and that neither of the contracting parties should conclude 
either truce or peace with Great Britain without first obtaining 
the formal consent of the other; and they mutuallj' agreed not 
to lay down their arms until the independence of the United 
States should be formally or tacitly assured bj' the treaty or 
treaties that should terminate the war. 

On the alliance of America with France it was resolved in 
Great Britain immediately to evacuate Philadelphia, and to con- 
centrate the royal force in the harbor and city of New York. 
In pursuance with this resolution, the British army on the 18th 
of June passed over the Delaware into New Jersey and com- 
menced its march to New York. At Monmouth they were at- 
tacked by the Americans, and a battle ensued in which both 
sides claimed the victory, although the British loss was much 
greater than their opponents. Soon after the evacuation con- 
gress removed to Philadelphia. 

In July a French fleet with about four thousand troops 
under the command of Count D'Estaing, arrived on the coast 



44 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

of Virginia. Failing in bis object of surprising the British 
tieet in the Delaware, be proceeded towards New York for the 
purpose of attacking tbem there; but finding that to be imprac- 
ticable, he sailed for Newport upon the advice of Geneial 
Washington, to act in conjunction with the Americans in an at- 
tempt on Rhode Island, where he arrived on the 25th of Jul} . 
Soon afterward a British fleet appeared for the relief of New- 
port, and the two fleets sailed out to sea. After manoeuvring 
for two days without coming to action, they were separated 
by a violent storm, and the French fleet sailed to Boston to 
refit. 

The year was drawing to a close, and no important advance 
had been made by the British. The commander-in-chief there- 
fore resolved to make a demonstration upon the Southern 
States. A project was formed to invade Geoi-gia from the 
noi'th and south. On the 27th of November a fleet sailed from 
New York with about two thousand men, to act in concert with 
the British troops stationed in East Florida. On the 29th of 
December an attack was made upon the Americans who were 
defending Savannah. The British were victorious, killing 
about one hundi'ed of the Americans and taking prisoners 
thirty-eight officers and four hundred and fifteen privates. The 
town and port of Savannah w-ere captured, with forty eight 
cannon, twenty-three mortars, all the ammunition and stores, 
the shipping in the river, and a large quantity of provisions. 

A horriI)ie massacre w^as committed at the village of "W^yom- 
ing, in Pennsylvania, by a body of Tories and Indians. More 
than two hundred of the inhabitants were slaughtered, and 
nearly all the houses and property in the place destroyed. 

On the 6th of August, M. Gerard, the minister appointed 
from France for the United States, arrived at Philadelphia. 

On the 14th of September Congress appointed Benjamin 
Franklin Minister Plenipotentiarj' of the United States to the 
Covu't of France. 

The number of American prisoners confined in the jails of 
Great Britain, early in the year, was computed to be 924. A 
meeting in London was convened to relieve their distresses, and 
subscriptions were raised there and in the country of nearly 
twenty thousand dollars for that purpose. 

Vermont was constituted a State on the 13th of March. 

In August a fire in New York consumed about three hun- 
dred houses on the eastern side of the city. 
1779 The campaign of this year was barren in important events. 
At the North a few enterprises were inaugurated by small de- 
tachments of the opposing armies. In July a predatory expe- 
dition was undertaken by the British against the towns on the 
Connecticut coast. About twenty-six hundred men, under 
Governor Tryon, accompanied by a fleet of armed vessels, 
sailed from New York and anchored at West Haven. A de- 
tachment of the troops marched into New Haven, and for 
about seven hours ravaged and plundered the town. Thence 
they successively plundered and burned the towns of Fairfield, 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 45 

Green Farmp, and Norwalk. In the same mouth the Americans 
made an assault on the fort at Stony Point, on the Hudson 
River, and captured it, taking about live hundred anil fifty 
prisoners, and a considerable quantit}' of military stores. 

An expedition, composed of a large force, sailed from Boston 
in July to dislodge the British at Penobscot, in Maine, where 
they had erected strong fortitications. The f.ect consisted of 
twenty-four transports and about twenty armed vessels ami 
privateers. The enterprise was unsuccessful; the vessels were 
all taken or destroyed by the British. The greater portion of 
the sailors and troops, however, escaped, and returned home on 
foot, exploring their way through a trackless wilderness. 

A more fortunate expedition was undertaken against the In- 
dians belonging to the Six Nations, in New York, under the 
command of General Sullivan. The Indians, on hearing of 
the projected attack, collected their strength, took possession of 
a favorable location for defence, and strongly fortified it. Gen- 
eral Sullivan attacked them in their works more than two 
hoius, W'hen they fled with precipitation. The \ictorious 
army, penetrating into the heart of their country, desti'ojed 
their villages, and laid their fields and gardens desolate. 

In March, in an engagement on the Savannah River, a body 
of about fifteen hundred North Carolina militia and sixty Con- 
tinental troops were defeated. The greater part of the militia 
threw down their arms, and fled in confusion. About three 
hundred men were killed or taken prisoners. 

In May, a large British force appeared at Charleston, S. C, 
and summoned the town to surrender. The demand not being 
complied with, the enemy, having intelligence that a considera 
ble reinforcement of American troops were on the way, re- 
solved to retreat, and they departed at night without inflicting 
any injury upon the tow n. 

In the latter part of September an expedition composed of 
a part of the Southern anny, and the French fleet under 
Count D'Estaing, consisting of eleven frigates and twenty sail 
of the line, made an attack on the fort and toAvn of Savannah. 
It being at length ascertained that considerable time would be 
necessary to reduce the place by regular ai)proaches, it was de- 
termined to make an assault. The assailants, composed of 
about thirty-five hundred French troops and one thousand 
Americans, were repeatedly driven back in confusion by the 
enemy's batteries; and after sustaining their fire for an hour, 
were ordered to retreat. About nine hundred Frencii and 
American soldiers Avere killed or wounded. Immediately after 
this unsuccessful assault, the American militia, discouraged, 
retired to their homes, and the French fleet left the country. 

In May, a British land and naval force made a descent on the 
coast of Virginia. They took possession of Portsmouth and 
Norfolk ; destroyed the houses, naval stores, and a large maga- 
zine of provisions at Suffolk ; made a similar destruction at 
Kemp's Landing, Shepherd's, Gosport, Tanner's Creek, and 
other places in the vicinity ; and after setting fire to the houses 



46 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

and other public buildings in the dockyard at Gosport, em- 
barked with their booty for New York. 

The seat for the government of Virginia was removed from 
Williamsburg to Richmond by act of the assembly. At this 
time Richmond was so insignificant as scarcely able to afford 
accommodations for the officers of the government. 
1780 No sooner did Sir Henry Clinton receive certain information 
that the French fleet had left America, than he set forward an 
expedition, consisting of large land and naval forces, against 
South Carolina. In April he had accomplished the investment 
of Charleston by sea and land, and on the 6th of May com- 
pelled the garrison of Fort Moultrie to surrender. The capi- 
tulation of the city soon followed, and the British took posses- 
sion of the place, securing above five thousand surrendered 
prisoners of war, besides upwards of four hundred pieces of 
artillery. Sir Henry Clinton, leaving about four thousand men 
under the command of General Cornwallis for the southern ser- 
vice, embarked early in June for New York. On the 16th of 
August a battle took place near Camden, in South Carolina, in 
which the Americans were defeated with severe loss. During 
the year several engagements and skirmishes took place at the 
South with varying successes and defeats. 

The must flagrant instance of treachery during the war oc- 
curred this year. For the defence of the Hudson River a strong 
and impregnable fortress had been built at West Point, and this 
had been intrusted to the command of General Benedict Ar- 
nold. A negotiation with Sir Henry Clinton had been begun 
by Arnold, and was afterward concluded ; by which, for a cer- 
tain remuneration in money and rank in the enemy's service, 
he agreed to make such a disposition of his garrison as would 
enable the British general effectually to surprise and capture 
that stronghold. The agent employed by Sir Henry Clinton in 
the negotiations was Major Andre, adjutant-general of the Brit- 
ish army. To favor the communications, the VvUnre. a Brit- 
ish sloop of war, had been stationed in the river, as near Arn- 
old's post as could be without exciting suspicion. On the night 
of the 21st of September, Arnold sent a boat from the shore to 
the vessel to fetch Major Andre, and they met on the beach to 
discuss their plans. Their business not being finished, until it 
was too near morning for Andre to return to the Vulture un- 
observed, it was necessary that he should remain on shore in con- 
cealment until night time. Meanwhile, the vessel having at- 
tracted the suspicious attention of people on the shore, .sailed 
farther away, and the boatman who remained to carry Audr6 
back refused, against all remonsti'ances, to do ^o. There was, 
therefore, no way for Andre to return to New York excejit by 
land. This he hesitatingly concluded to do. Changing his 
uniform for citizen's clothes, and mounted on a good horse, ac- 
companied with a guide and a negro servant, and having a pass- 
port signed by Arnold, he crossed the river at Verplanck's Point 
early in the morning, and proceeded toward White Plains. When 
they reached, as they supposed, neutral ground beyond the 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATEvS. 47 

American lines, the guide and servant turned back, and Andre 
rode on alone towards New York. When near 'i^irr^y t own , he was 
stopped and questioned by three armed militiamen whom he 
met on the road Not being satisfied, even when shown Arnold's 
pass, they insisted upon searching him, and discovered, con- 
cealed between his stockings and feet, the papers given him l)y 
Arnold. Andre now offered his captors tempting bribes to bo 
allowed to pass on, but these were rejected with indignation, 
and he Avas escorted to the nearest American quarters, and de- 
livered up. General AYashington leferred the case of Andre to 
the examination and decision of a board consisting of fourteen 
officers, who, without examining a single witness, founded their 
report on his own confession. They adjudged that he ought to be 
considered a spy, and that, agTeeably to the laws and usages of 
nations, he should suffer death. He was accordingly hung on 
the 2d of October at Tappan, at the age of twenty nine years. 
His youth, accomplishments, and manners endeared him to 
all, and his fate was deeply regretted on botli sides of the At- 
lantic. His king caused a mural monument to be erected to 
his memoiy in Westminster Abljcy, and in 1831 his remains 
were taken to London, where they have since rested among 
those of many heroes and poets of England. Arnold received 
intelligence of Andre's capture very soon after that occurrence, 
and he immediately abandoned everything, and fled on board 
the Vulture, whicli took him to New York. The traitor, al- 
though unsuccessful, received 10,000 guineas from the British 
treasury, and the commission of a brigadier from the king. He 
died in obscurity in London, in 1801. 

Henry Laurens, late president of congress, while on his pas- 
sage to Holland, to which country he had been appointed minis- 
ter from the United States, was captured by a British frigate 
off Newfoundlantl, He was taken to England, where he was 
examined by the privy council, and committed close prisoner t(j 
the Tower, on an accusation of high-treason. He remained 
there a prisoner for more than fourteen months. 

The first regular glass factory established in the United 
States was erected this year in the town of Temple, New 
Hampshire. The works were operated by Hessians and Wal- 
deckers, deserters from the British army. 

In August, the first buildings on the site of Cincinnati were 
erected. They were two block -houses, built hy a detachment 
of American troops. 

Virginia ceded to the United States all its right and title 1<j 
the vast territory lying north of the Ohio. 

Louisville, Ky., was founded and settled by about six hun- 
dred people, who emigrated there in the spring of this year. In 
May, the Legislature of Virginia passed an act incorporating the 
town. 
1781 The military movements of the year were confined princi- 
pally to the Southern States. The British were defeated in two 
important and several minor engagements in South Carolina, 
which closed the war in that State. In Virginia a larce British 



48 HISTORY or THE UXITED STATES. 

army surrendered, which decided the result of the Revolution- 
ary war. 

The principal engagements in South Carolina were at the 
Cowpcns and at Eutaw Springs. At the former place up- 
wards of three hundred of the British w^re killed or wounded, 
and five hundred taken prisoners. A large amount of rirms 
and other military property w^ere taken by the Ann lieans. In 
the battle at Eutaw Springs, the British lost, in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners, upwards of eleven liundred men. 

Virginia Avas intended by the British commander-in-chief to 
be the principal seat of operations in his ])lan of the campaign 
for this year. To cany out that object, Lord Cornwalhs 
marched northw^ardly from South Carolina, and arrived with 
his army at Petersbm-g on the 29th of May. Here he formed a 
junction with the British troops stationed in that neighbor 
hood, and he found himself in command of an army number- 
ing upwards of seven thousand men. The British fleet stationed 
on the coast was intended to be reinforced by their navy in the 
West Indies. That design was frustrated by the arrival in the 
Chesapeake of a French fleet of twenty-eight sail of the line, 
commanded by Count de Grasse, and soon afterwards of another 
squadron from Rhode Island under Count de Barras. In Sep- 
tember Lord Coiiiwallis transferred his army to Yorktown, and 
Gloucester opposite, and strongly fortified those places. At 
this time the American forces under the command of Lafaj'ette, 
Steuben, and Wayne were not sufficient to attack the Bi'itish 
in their new position with any prospect of success. Wliile the 
operations in Virginia were in that condition, French troops 
under Count de Rochambeau, which had arrived in Rhode 
Island from France in the preceding year, joined General 
Washington on the Hudson, and the allied armies, eluding the 
vigilance of Sir Henry Clinton at New York, marched to 
Virginia. They rendezvoused at Williamsburg, twelve miles 
above Yorktown, and on the morning of the 28th of September 
marched in two divisions by separate roads to invest the British. 
They were occupied in preparations for the siege until the 9th 
of October, when a general discharge of cannon commenced 
upon the British works. Perceiving his peril, Cornwallis at- 
tempted to escape to Gloucester, and thence flee northward to 
New York. With that purpose he embarked a large number 
of his troops on the vessels on York River, when a fierce tornado 
arose and made the passage of the river too perilous for the 
consummation of that plan. Despairing of either victory oi" 
escape, or of aid from the navy with French ships of war 
guarding the mouth of the York, Cornwallis made overtures for 
capitulation. The arrangements were concluded, and on the 
19th of October the articles were signed, by which the British 
forces surrendered prisoners of war. The army, with the 
artillery, arms, accoutrements, military chest and all public 
stores, were surrendered to General Washington, the ships and 
seamen to the Count de Grasse. The prisoners, exclusive of 
seamen, amounted to 7073. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 49 

Early in the year, Benedict Arnold, now a British officer, 
with about fifteen hundred men, made a descent on the un- 
protected coasts of Virginia, and committed extensive ravages. 

While the allied armies were advancing to the siege of 
Yorktown, Arnold conducted an expedition against New 
London, in Connecticut. He took Fort Trumbull, and Fort 
Griswold on the opposite shore of the Thames, and reduced to 
ashes the town of New London and the stores contained in it. 

On the 1st of March the State of New York ceded to the 
United States all its lands in the country north of the Ohio. 

The first newspaper published in Vermont was i.ssued in 
February, at Westminster under the name of T.\e Vermont 
Gazette or Green Mountain Post Boy. In 1783 the paper was 
removed to Windsor. 

The fir-st bank established in the United States was incorpo 
rated by Congress, under tlie name of " The President, Direc- 
tors, and Company of the Bank of North America." Its loca- 
tion was at Philadelphia. 

1782 The capture of a second British army in America rendered 
the war unpopular in Great Bri+ain. Commissioners for nego- 
tiating peace were appointed by both nations, and on the 30th 
of November they agreed on provisional articles, which were to 
be inserted in a future treaty of peace to be finally concluded 
between the parties when peace should take place between 
Great Britain and France. 

The United Provinces of Holland acknowledged the inde- 
pendence of the United States on the 19th of April. 

The first newspaper published in Brooklyn, L. I., was issued 
on the 8th of June, and called The Brooklyn Hall Super-Extra 
Qazetie. 

The first manufacture of fustians and jeans in this country 
was commenced at Philadelphia. 

1783 On the 20th of January an agreement was entered into be- 
tween the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States and 
the Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, relative to a ces- 
sation of hostilities. On the 11th of April, Congress issued a 
proclamation declaring tlie cessation of arms on land and sea, 
and enjoined its observance. The definite Treaty of Peace be- 
tween Great Britain and the United States was signed at Paris 
on the 3d of September. At the same time a treaty was con- 
cluded between Great Britain and Spain, by which the former 
nation ceded to the latter East and West Florida. 

The independence of the United States was acknowledged 
by Sweden on the 5th of February, by Denmark on the 25th of 
February, by Spain on the 24th of March, and by Russia in 
July. 

A ship from Massachusetts arrived at Riga, in Russia, on the 
1st of June, and was the first American vessel that ever visited 
any Russian port. 

Before the dissolution of the army, the American officers in- 
stituted a society, denominated " The Society of the Cincinnati." 
Its objects were to perpetuate the remembrance of the Ameri- 



50 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

can revolution, as well as a cordial affection among clie officers, 
and to extend acts of beneficence to those officers and their 
families whose situation might require assistance. 

Congress issued a proclamation on the 18tli of October, that 
the army should be disbanded on the 3d of November. 

On the 35th of November the British army evacuated the 
city of New York, and the Americans took possession of the 
city the same day. 

Charlestown, the capital of South Carolina, was incorporated 
by the legislature of that State by the name of "The City of 
Charleston." 

" The American Spelling Book," by Noah Webster, was first 
published this year, and was the first book of the kind printed 
in Ameiica. 

The lighting of the streets of Baltimore and a day police were 
established by the town authorities. 
1784 The Legislature of Connecticut passed a law for the gradual 
abolition of slavery in that State. The towns of Hartford, New 
Haven, New London, Norwich, and Middletown were incorpo- 
rated as cities. 

The second bank in the United States went into operation in 
Boston, and Avas called the Massachusetts Bank. 

The New York Chamber of Commerce, instituted hx the colo- 
nial government, was continued a corporation by the State legis- 
lature, with enlarged privileges. 

The Empress of China, of Boston, sailed from New York for 
Canton in February, and returned in the next year. This was 
the first voyage from the United States to China. 

The census taken in Massachusetts showed a population of 
353,133 whites and 4377 negroes. 

The territory north and west of the Ohio was i:)rovided with 
a temporary government by act of congress. 

The first daily newspaper published in America was estab- 
lished at Philadelphia. It was until this time issued as a 
weekly under the title of The Pennsyltunia Packet or the Otneral 
Advertiser. 

Tlie Massachusetts Centinel and tlie RepithUcan Jonrval issued 
its first number at Boston on the 24th of March. In the year 
1840 it was merged in the Boston Daily Advertiser. 

Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania, was laid «ttt into town lots and 
its settlement commenced. The town of Hudson, in New York, 
was founded, and Burlington and New Brunswick, in New 
Jersey, incorporated as cities. 
lYSS An organ was set up in the First Church in Boston. This 
was the first instance of the introduction of instrumental music 
into a Congregational church in New England. 

Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania, was laid out into town lots. 

The first daily newspaper published in New York, and the 
second in this country, was issued this year under the name of 
The iVew Yorlc Daily Advertiser. 

The first newspaper published in Maine was issued on the 
first of January, and called T?ie Falmouth Gazette. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 51 

The introduction of the Lonibardy poplar into America was 
made this j^ear by Michaux, who was sent over by the King of 
France to collect trees and shrubs for his establishment at Ram- 
bouillet. 

The regular exportation of cotton first commenced this j^ear ; 
one bag was sent from Charleston to Liverpool, twelve from 
Pliiladelphia, and one from New York. 

The first Philadelpliia Director)/ was issued, and was the first 
city directory published in the United States. 

1786 An insurrection broke out in Massachusetts, and Daniel Shays, 
a captain in the Revolution, was chosen leader of the insurgents. 
They complained that the governor's salary was too high, the 
senate aristocratic, the lawyers extortionate, and taxes too bur- 
densome to bear, and thej^ demanded an issue of paper money. 
Bodies of armed men interrupted the sessions of the courts in 
a number of counties, and in December, Shays, with a large 
force, prevented the holding of courts at Worcester and Spring- 
field. In the following month lie marched with about two 
thousand men to capture the arsenal at Springfield, but being 
fired upon by the militia the insurgents fled, the leaders making 
their way to New Hampshire. Shays remained in Vermont 
about a year and was afterwards pardoned. 

Portland, in Maine, was incorporated. The place was here- 
tofore known as Falmouth. 

The State of New York contained at this time 220,000 white 
population and about 19,000 negroes. 

The first Roman Catholic church erected in New York was 
built this year on Barclay Street, and called St. Peter's. 

The first Sunday School in the United States was opened by 
Bishop Asljur}', of Virginia. 

The first newspaper published west of the Alleghanies was 
issued on the 29th of July at Pittsbui-g, and called The Pitts- 
li/rg Gazette. 

That part of the country known subsequently as Tennessee 
formed at this period a part of North Carolina. The inhabit- 
ants of that section being dissatisfied with the government, met 
in convention atJonesborough, and voted to secede from North 
Carolina and form an independent State, to Avhich they gave 
the name of Falkland. A violent contest soon arose between 
the conflicting authorities, which was prevented from growing 
into a civil war only by the interposition of the United States 
Government. 

1787 In May, delegates from all the States excepting Rhode Island 
assembled at Philadelphia to adopt a more perfect and stronger 
Union. The form of confederation answered the purposes of 
the government during the war ; but no sooner had that period 
elapsed than the total inefficiency of the f edcT-al government was 
perceived. An enormous debt had been contracted, and public 
credit was in the lowest state of depreciation. Congress had 
devised a system of revenue, with a provision for discharging 
the existing debts. This system was transmitted to the several 
State legislatures, with an address strongly recommending its 



52 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

adoption; but from the various and interfering interests of the 
different States it was but partially adopted, and never put into 
operation. In some States the treaties with foreign powers 
were disregarded or openly violated. Other defects in the ex- 
isting constitution were clearly evident. In this state of affairs 
it was the opinion of the wisest citizens that an energetic sj's- 
tem of national government onlj^ could revive the ruined state 
of commerce, restore public and private credit, give a national 
character to the States, secure the faith of public treaties, and 
prevent the evils of anarchy and civil war. On the 17th ot Sep- 
tember the delegates unanimously agreed on a Federal Consti- 
tution, and the articles soon afterward were transmitted to the 
legislatures of the several States, in order that they might be 
submitted to conventions of the people for ratification. There 
was a struggle in the convention touching the basis of rep- 
resentation in congress, in which the question of slavery min- 
gled. It originated in a strife between the larger and smaller 
States, the latter con lending for an equal and the former for a 
proportional representation. The resolution, however, was 
passed, incorporating into the Constitution a provision that the 
base of representation should be on free inhabitants and three 
fifths of all other persons. By this vote the half a million of slaves 
in the Southern States ar.d their increase in coming j'cars were 
to be counted in the basis of representation in the national House 
of Representatives and in the Electoral College, so that an 
owner of slaves would be entitled not only to his own vote, but 
three votes more for every five slaves he possessed. This meas- 
ure placed large powers in the hands of the slaveholfling class 
in the subsequent political struggles in national politics. The 
convention also passed a resolution providing for the rendition 
of slaves escaping from one State into another. 

Connecticut ceded to the United States all its lands west of 
Penns}'lvania, excepting about 4,000,000 acres. Of this 
reserve, 500,000 acres were granted to the inhabitants of New 
Loudon, Fairfield, and Norwalk, whose property had been 
destroyed by the British troops in the Revolutionary war. 

Congress passed an act for establishing a government for the 
vast territory bounded by the lakes, the State of Pennsylvania, 
and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. It was provided in the 
ordinance that slavery and iuvoluntarysrrvitude, except in pun- 
ishment of crimes, should be forever prohibited in that district. 

The State of South Carolina passed an act for the cession of 
its western territory to the United States. 

Columbia College of New York was incorporated, and the 
College of Physicians at Philadelphia was founded. 

About one hundred houses were consumed by fire in Boston, 
on tlie 24th of April. 

At this period Baltimore contained 1959 dwelling-houses, 
nine churches, and one hundred and sixty -four warehouses and 
stores. 

The first newspaper issued in Kentucky was published in 
August at Lexington, under the title of The Lexmgton Ga~.e'1e. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 53 

The first cotton-iuill ia Ibc United States went into operation 
this year ut Beverly, Mass. From its imperfect machinery it 
soon closed. It manufactured corduroys and bed-ticks. 

The settlement of Binghamtou and of Syracuse, in New 
York, was commenced. The manufacture of salt was com- 
menced about this time near Syracuse. 

1788 The new Federal Constitution pi'oposed the last j'ear to the 
people of the United States b^' the several conventions was 
adopted in all the States, excepting Rhode Island and North 
Carolina. 

Mass was performed for the first time in Boston. 

John Greenwood, a dentist, established an office in New 
York. This was the first one of the kind in the United States. 

The settlement of Marietta was commenced on the 7th of 
April. This was the first permanent settlement in Ohio. 

In this and the preceding year, twenty thousand persons emi- 
grated to the Northwestern Territory. 

1789 The first Congress under the Constitution of the United States, 
assembled at New York on the 4th of March. Delegates soon 
arrived from all the States, excepting Rhode Island and North 
Carolina. On opening the votes of the electors chosen by tlie 
several States, it was ascertained that George AYashingtoa 
was unanimously elected President, and John Adams, hav- 
ing the next highest number of votes, Vice-President. On 
the 23d of April, tlie President elect arrived at New York, 
where he was received by the Governor of the State, and con- 
ducted with military honors through an immense concourse of 
people to the apartments providetl for him. Here he received 
the salutations of foreign ministers, public bodies, and private 
citizens of distinction. On (he 30th of April the President was 
inaugurated. After a laborious session. Congress adjourned on 
the 29ih of September, to meet onthe.first Monday in Janutuy. 
The national government encountered from its formation a 
powerful opposition. The friends of the Constitution were de- 
nominated Federalist,^, while those who had opposed its adop- 
tion were called A nti- Federalists. In the first congress, there 
was but a small majority of Federalists, and these were in favor 
of the measures recommended by the administration. 

In November, North Carolina adopted the Constitution, and 
was admitted into the Union. 

The first Episcopal convention in America convened at Phil- 
adelphia, and settled a constitution for the "Protestant Epis- 
copal Church in the United States of America." 

The Rev. Dr. Carrol of Maryland was consecrated bishop of 
the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first one consecrated 
in the United States. 

The first Roman Catholic church in New England was founded 
in Boston. 

The seat of the government for South Carolina was removed 
from Charleston to Columbia. 

Cincinnati was laid out as a town in the beginning of the 
year ; a few months later, a log-cabin was erected, and the set- 



54 HISTORY OF THE UJflTED STATES, 

tlcmcnt of the town commenced. The settlement of Knoxville, 
in Tennessee, was commenced. 

The first successful crop of Sea Island cotton was gathered 
in South Carolina. 

The first geography of the United States was published by 
Jedediah Morse. 
1790 Congress passed an act for the assumption of the debts of the 
several States, incurred in the prosecution of the Revolutionary 
war, and for funding this national debt. At the same time, an 
act was passed fixing the location of the capital of the United 
States on the Potomac. There had been a wrangle among the 
members of congress relating to the permanent location of the 
national capital ; the Southern members contending for the 
Potomac ; those from the North, for a place in Pennsylvania, 
on the Susquehanna, called Wright's Ferry. At the same time, 
there was a disagreement among them concerning the policy 
proposed in the assumption by the national government of the 
several State debts : the Southern members opposed it ; the 
Northern advocated it. At lengtli, a compromise was effected, 
whereby the South gained the capital, and the North assump- 
tion. The removal to the Potomac Avas designated to take 
place in the 3'ear 1800 ; in the mean time, the seat of govern- 
ment was to be established at Philadelphia. Accordingly, the 
transfer to that city from New York was made in the autumn 
of this year. 

The vast tract of country south of the Ohio was organized 
under a territorial government. 

The District of Columbia, b}' act of congress passed on the 
16th of July, was located and surveyed for the seat of the na- 
tional government. About sixty square miles of this territory 
on the north side of the Potomac was ceded to the United 
States b}' Marjiand, and forty square miles on the south side 
of that river by Virginia. This latter portion was reconveyed 
to Virginia in 1846. 

The Salem Gazette, at Salem. Mass., made its first appearance. 
It succeeded the Essei Gazdte, establi.'-hed in the year 1768. 

The District of Kentucky, at this time a part of Virginia, 
was detached from that State by consent, and made application 
to be admitted into the Union. 

The State of Rhode Island, represented in a convention at 
Newport, adopted and ratified the Constitution of the United 
Slates, and was subsequently admitted into the Union. 

By the census, the population of the United States at this 
period was 3,929,326, of which number 695,655 were slaves. 

Congress passed an act accepting the cession by North Caro- 
lina to the United States of its western territory. ' This cession 
was subsequently formed into the ^tate of Tennessee. This 
cession was made in accordance with an act passed by the legis- 
lature of North Carolina, in tlie preceding year, which provided 
the condition, that no regulation made or to be made by Cong- 
ress should tend to the emancipation of slaves in the ceded ter- 
ritory. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 55 

The first manufacture in this country, of brooms from broom 
corn, was commenced at Phihidelphia. 

The first voyage of an American vessel around the world, 
was commenced by the ship Columbia, from Boston, on the 
30th of September, 1787, and was completed tliis year. It de- 
parted for the north-west coast of America, thence, freiglited 
with furs, sailed to China, and from there returned home by 
the way of the Cape of Good Hope. 

On the 5th of June a boat with twelve oars, propelled by 
steam, invented hj John Fitch, made her first trip as a passen- 
ger and freight boat on the Delaware, between Philadelphia 
and Trenton, running eighty mih's within thirteen hours against 
the tide and a strong wind. This was the most successful 
experiment of a steamboat in this or any country. The 
l)oat continued to perform regularly advertised trips for four 
mouths, running about three thousand miles during the season. 
1791 Vermont was admitted into the Union on the 18th of Febru- 
ary. 

Congi'ess appointed General St. Clair Governor of the 
Northwestern Territory, and instructed him to destroy the In- 
dian \-illages on the Miami River, to expel the savages from 
that district, and to connect that part of the country with the 
Ohio by a chain of military posts. In commencing to carry 
out those instructions St. Clair met with an engagement with 
the Indians in Novcml)er, in which he was defeated, with a loss 
of about six hundred and fifty men. 

The Legislature of North Carolina passed an act to lay oTit a 
new town to be called Raleigh, for the seat of the government. 

The United States Eank, with a capital of ten" millions of 
dollars, went into operation at Philatlelpliia. It was chartered 
on the 25th of February by congress to aid the operations of 
the government. By its charter it was established for twenty 
years, with the privilege of creating branches in any of the 
States. The national government was authorized to subscribe 
for two millions of the stock, and private individuals the re- 
mainder. 

The first successful cotton factory established in America 
went into operation by Samuel Slater at Pawtucket, in Rhode 
Island. 

The nrst bank established in New York was incorporated 
under the title of the Bank of New York. 

The first American whaling-ship to the Pacific sailed from 
Nantucket this year. 

The first daily newspaper published in Baltimore was issued 
on the 24th of October, and called the Baltimore Daily Re- 
pository. The first newspaper in Harrisburg, Pa., appeared un- 
der the name of the Oracle of Bai/jj/u'/K 

The first furnace in Kentucky was erected by government 
troops on Slate Creek, a branch of the Licking River. It was 
worked until the year 1838. 

The existence of anthracite coal, in Carbon and the adjacent 
counties in Pennsylvania, was accidentally discovered this year 



56 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

by a hunter named Giuther. Ginlher took a piece to Colonel 
Jacob Weiss, wbo lived near the site of Mauch Chunk, and he 
carried the specimen to Philadelphia, where, after having been 
examined by several mineralogists, it finally came into the hands 
of Mr. Charles Cist, a printer. Cist ^vas the first person who 
appreciated its merit, and insisted that arrangements should be 
immediately undertaken to secure the lands where the discov- 
ery was made. Accordingly, Weiss obtained several thousands 
of acres from the Land Office, and formed an association to de- 
velop the mines, i;nder the name of the Lehigh Coal Mine 
Company, composed of several enteiprising and wealthy capi- 
talists. The company, however, failed to find purchasers for 
the coal, and suspended operations, and it was not until the 
year 1820 that success was attained. 
1792 There were tw^o great political parties at this time, of about 
equal strength, and which united only on the name of Wash- 
ington. The Federalists supported the measures of the gov 
ernment; the An ti- Federalists, to whom was now given the 
name of Republicans, opposed the financial measures of Ham- 
ilton and other acts of the administration. The French Eevo- 
lution also had an important influence on the politics of the 
United States at this time. Mr. Jefferson and his Republican 
friends sympathized with the French nation in their struggles 
for liberty and their contests with other nations, while Hamil- 
ton and his friends, of the Federal ])arty, considered it important 
to the interests of the United States to maintain friendly rela- 
tions with Great Britain, which power was at this period at war 
with France, and they Avere unwilling to sacrifice either the 
peace or the interests of the nation to any syni]iathies they 
might have in favor of the revolutionists of France. In this 
state of public opinion the Presidential election of this year 
took place. Notwithstanding the high party feeling among 
the people, Washington received the unanimous votes of the 
electors to serve a second tenn as President. John Adams re- 
ceived seventy seven votes, and was re-elected Vice President. 
George Clinton, the candidate of the Republican party, re- 
ceived fifty votes, and five votes were given to other persons. 
The total number of electors at this time was one hundred and 
thirty-two. 

In accordance with an act of Congress ainint was established 
in Philadelphia. Bullion was to be assayed and coined free or 
exchanged for coin .^t a reduction of one half per cent. Horse- 
power was used for coining until 1815, when a steam-engine 
was procured. The mint was readj' for operation on the 7th of 
September. 

Kentucky was admitted into the Union on the 1st of June. 

The South Carolina Bank, tb.e Bank of Pennsylvania, the 
Bank of New Hampshire, and the Bank of Albany were estab- 
lished. The latter bank was the second one founded in the 
State of New York. The Union Bank of Boston received a 
charter. 

The Columbia River, in Oregon, was discovered and enleied 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 57 

by Captain Gray on the 7th of May; and he gave it the name of 
his ship, which name has since been retained. 

Congress passed an act fixing the rates for postage, which 
rates were not changed until the year 1815. The rate for 
single letters for a distance of thirty miles was six and one 
quarter cents; beyond that the rate increased with the distance. 
1793 George Washington and John Adams were inaugurated for 
a second term of office as President and Vice-President, respec- 
tively. 

In April Citizen Genet arrived in this country as minister 
from the French Republic. It having been expected in France 
that Ihe United States would engage on its side against Eng- 
land and other nations, Genet, on his arrival, issued commis- 
sions to vessels of war to sail from American ports and cruise 
against the enemies of France. Whereupon the Presiilent is- 
sued a proclamation, declaring the policy of this government to 
be that of pursuing a conduct of friendship and impartiality 
toward the belligcreut powers; and that whosoever of the citi- 
zens of the United States should render himself liable to ])un- 
ishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, bj- committing, 
aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said powers, or 
by carrying to any of thein those articles which were deemed 
contraband by the modern usage of nations, would not receive 
the protection of the United States against such forfeiture and 
punishment. The President also gave instructions that prose- 
cutions would be instituted against all persons who should, 
within the cognizance of tli(> courts of the United States, vio- 
late the laws of nations with respect to the powers at war, 
or any of them. Mr. Genet, after this, threatened to ap- 
peal to the people; but finally, after many controversies with 
him, the President demanded Ins recall by the French Govern- 
ment, which demand was acceded to. Genet is said to have in- 
troduced into this country the idea of " democratic societies," 
in imitation of the Jacobin clubs of Paris. On the 30th of 
May one was instituted at Philadelphia. Others were formed 
in other cities, and from their name the term Democrat first 
came to be used in the politics of this country. 

Congress passed an act by which slave-masters and their 
agents were given summary jjower to seize, hold, and return to 
slavery their fugitive bondsmen escaping from one State into 
another. 

The yellow-fever devastated Philadelphia, and more than 
one half the houses in the city Avere deserted by people who 
fled the place. 

The first printing-press in Tennessee was set up at Knoxville, 
and the first newspaper issued called the Knoxville OazeUe. 

The first newspaper publislied north of the Ohio was issued 
at Cincinnati on the 9th of November, and called The Sentinel 
of the Northwestern Territory. 

The first Sunday-school opened in New England was estab- 
lished at Pawtucket by Samuel Slater. 

This year is marketl by the invention by Eli Whitney of the 



58 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

cotton-gin. Up to this time the cleaning of cotton from the 
seed was done by hand, one laborer accomplishing about six 
pounds a day. By this invention about one thousand pounds 
of cotton could be cleaned in the same time. 

The city of Washington was founded, and the corner-stone 
of the Capitol laid by President Washington, on the 18th of 
September. 

The first mill in the United States for the manufacture of 
cotton-yarns wi ■ erected by Samuel Slater at North Provi- 
dence. 

The first manufacture of clocks as a business in America was 
started by Eli Terry, at Plymouth, Conn. 
1794 At this time the western forts on Lake Erie were still occu- 
pied by the British, contrary to the treaty of 1783. American 
vessels were seized by vessels of that nation on their way to 
French ports and American seamen were impressed. In view 
of those facts, the President, after many remonstrances with the 
British Government, fearing that the United States might get 
involved in war with England, sent John Jay as a special envoy 
to London, to endeavor to avert that calamity by negotiation. 
In November a treaty with Great Britain was signed, and was 
afterward ratified by the United States Senate. As this treaty 
was considered favorable to Great Britain, the publication of it 
in this country tended to heighten the asperity of political par- 
ties, and to increase the feelings of hostility toward England 
which were entertained by the opposition to the administration. 

An insuiT^ction broke out in Pennsylvania caused by the pas- 
sage by congress of acts imposing duties upon spirits distilled, 
and upon stills. From the commencement of the operation of 
those laws, combinations of distillers were formed in the four 
western counties of Pennsylvania to defeat them, and violence 
was repeatedly committed. In July about one hundred armed 
men attacked the house of an inspector of the revenue and 
wounded several persons. They seized the marshal of that 
district, and coinpelled him to enter into stipidations to forbear 
the execution of his office. Both the inspector and the marshal 
were obliged to flee from that part of the country. These and 
many other outrages induced President Washington to issue a 
proclamation commanding the insurgents to disperse. In Octo- 
ber the President ]>roceeded to Bedford at The head of a body 
of militia, where he gave out instriictions to Governor Lee of 
Maryland, whom he appointed to command the forces for the 
suppression of the rebellion, now supported by several thousand 
men. Governor Lee with fifteen thousand troops marched into 
Pennsylvania, and compelled the insurgents to lay down their 
arms and solicit the clemencj' of the government. 

General St. Clair having resigned the command of the araiy 
since his defeat. General Wayne was appointed to succeed him. 
On the 20th of August General Wayne had a battle with a large 
body of Indians at the rapids of the Miami, in whieii he defeated 
them; he then desolated their country, and erected forts in the 
heart of their settlements. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 59 

The foreign and domestic debts of the United States on the 
1st of January were a little more than scventy-fonr millions of 
dollars. As an offset, there were about twenty-six millions appli- 
cable to the sinking fund. 

The Insurance Company of North America, in Philadelphia, 
and the Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, were incorpo- 
rated. 

The first turnpike road in the United States was completed 
by a private company, and connected Lancaster with Philadel- 
phia, a distance of sixty-two miles. 

The tirst cotton sewing-thread manufactured in the United 
States was made this year at Pawtucket. 

Samuel Morey built a steamboat with a stern-wheel, and navi- 
gated it from Hartford to New York. 

Dayton, in Ohio, was laid out into a town and the lots dis- 
posed of by lotter}'. 

The first newspaper published west of the Mississippi was is- 
sued at New Orleans under the name of The Monitrur. 

The first theatre established in Boston was opened on the 4th 
of February, under the name of The Federal Street Theatre. 
The law forbidding theatrical performances had been repealed 
in the preceding year. 

By an act of congress the addition of two stars and two stripes 
was made to the national flag. 

On the 27th of March congress authorized the construction 
of six frigates as the foundation of a navy. The vessels of the 
Revolutionary war were disposed of at the end of that con- 
test. 

1795 The reserve lands belonging to the State of Connecticut were 
soklfor twelve hundred thousand dollars, and the proceeds of 
the sale were appropriated for the support of schools in the 
State. 

The exports of tlie United States for this year amounted to 
more than forty-seven millions of dollars. 

The Massachusetts Fire Insurance Company of Boston was 
incorporated. 

The yello^v-fever attacked the city of New York, and more 
than seven hundred persons died from it. 

The first newspaper established in the United States exclu- 
sively for commercial topics was issued at Boston on the 5th of 
September, under the title of The Boston Prices-Cnrrent and 
Marine Intelligencer, Commercial and Mercantile. 

1796 The third presidential election took place this j-ear. Wash- 
ington was earnestly solicited to be a candidate for rc-elcctfon, 
but he positively declined. John Adams and Thomas Pinck- 
ney were supported liy the Federalists as President and Vice- 
President. The Republicans were imanimously in favor of 
Thomas Jefferson for President, but were not united on the 
subject of Vice-President. At the election, of the electoral votes 
John Adams received 71; Thomas Jefferson, 68; Thomas Pinck- 
ney, 59; Aaron Burr, 30; Samuel Adams, 15; Oliver Ellsworth, 
11; George Clinlon, 7: John Jay, 5; James Iredell, 3; Georse 



60 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

WaKhington, 3; J. Henry, 2; 8. Johnston, 2; and Charles C. 
Pinckney, 1. By the constitution as it stood at this period, the 
person receiving the highest number of electoral votes was 
elected President, the next highest Vice-President. Accordingly 
John Adams was the successful candidate for President, and 
Thomas Jefferson became the Vice-President elect. 

Tennessee was formed under a State government and admit- 
ted into the Union. Knoxville was made the capital until the 
year 1802. 

The census of Albany showed a population of 6021. 

The first Methodist Church established in Boston was opened 
this j-ear. 

On the 20th of June a conflagration at Charleston, S. C, con- 
sumed three hundred houses ; and one at Savannah on the 25th 
of November destroyed three hundred and fifty. 

There was a large emigration to Ohio of people from the East- 
ern States. At this period Cincinnati contained about six hun- 
dred inhabitants. 

At this time there were four daily stages between New York 
and Philadelphia, and one between Philadelphia and Baltimore. 

The first successful manufacture of sugar from cane was 
made at a plantation a few miles above New Orleans. 

Cleveland, in Ohio, was founded, and Baltimore incorpora- 
ted with a city charter. The first directory in Baltimore was 
published. 

A conflagration in Savannah destroyed property valued at one 
million of dollars. 

The first newspaper published in Washington was issued on 
the 11th of June, and called The Washington Gazette. 

The first daily newspaper established in Boston appeared on 
the 6th of October, under the name of The Polar Star and-Bos- 
ton Daily Advertiser. 

The first manufacture of morocco leather in the United States 
was started at Lynn, Mass. 

1797 John Adams was inaugurated President, and Thomas Jeffer- 
son took the oath of office as Vice-President, on the 4th of March. 

There were at this period four hundred and eighty post-offices 
in the United States. 

Detroit at this time contained three hundred houses. 

The first American vessel on Lake Erie was launched near 
Erie, Pa. 

Western New York received a large emigration from the East 
this year. 

The introduction of cast-iron ploughs commenced at this time, 
and soon superseded wooden ploughs, which were heretofore ex- 
clusively used. At first there was a pi'ejudice against the new 
plough it being stated that cast-iron poisoned the land and spoiled 
the crop. 

The first scientific periodical in America was established in 
New York, and called The Medical Repository. 

1798 Congress passed an act in March establishing the Mississippi 
Territorj'. 



HISTORY OF THE UXITKD STATES, 61 

In May, Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, vras designated as the 
site for a government armory and manufactory. 

" Hail Columbia" made its tirst appearance and was a great 
success. It was composed by Joseph Hopkinson, of Philadel- 
phia, and was adapted to the air called "The Presidents 
March." 

The yellow-fever raged with violence in Philadelphia and 
New York. In the first 3645 persons died of the disease ; in 
the last 2086. It appeared as an epidemic in Boston for the 
first time, where 145 died of it. 

The new State-House in Boston was completed. 

The manufacture of straw-braid for hats and bonnets was 
originated at this time in Dcdham, Mass. 

The tirst American vessel on Lake Ontario was launched at 
Hanford's Landing, near Rochester. 

1799 Although there was no declaration of war either on the part 
of France or the United States, hostilities actuallj' commenced 
on the ocean between the two nations. The United States fri- 
gate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, on the 9th of February 
fell in with and captured the French frigate LTnsurgente, of 
forty guns. This action took place in the West India seas, and 
lasted about an hour. 

The American navy consisted at this period of forty-two ves- 
sels, carrying nine hundred and tifty guns. 

The Legislature of Pennsylvania established the seat of gov- 
ernment at Lancaster. 

1800 The north wing of the Capitol was finished this year, and 
the seat of government for the United States was removed to 
Washington. Congress met there for the first time on the 22d 
of November. 

A treaty was concluded between Spain and France, by which 
the sovereignty a)id property of Louisiana were conveyed to 
France. 

The Mississippi Territory was organized; and Indiana Terri- 
tory formed, with St. Vincennes as its capital. 

By the second census the population of the United States was 
found to be 5,805,482, of whom 896,849 were slaves. The 
population of the city of New Yoi'k was 60,489 ; of Philadel- 
phia, about 40,000 ; Baltimore, 23,971 ; Boston, 24,937 ; Wash- 
ington, 3210 ; Providence, 7614 ; and Charleston, 18,712. 

The first Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia was erected. 

More than one thousand of the inhabitants of Baltimore 
died from the yellow-fever. 

The United States frigate Constellation met the French 
frigate Le Vengeance at sea on the 1st of February, and in an 
action which took place for five hours, silenced the French 
ship. A squall enabled her to escape, with the loss of one 
hundred and sixty men killed and woimded. 

At the presidential election thisyear,the Republican candidates 
were Thomas Jefferson, who received seventy -three electoral 
votes ; and Aaron Burr, who received the same number. The 
Federalists gave John Adams sixty -five votes, Charles C. Pinck- 



62 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

ney sixty-four, and John Jay one. The votes for Mr. Jeffer- 
son and Mr. Bun- being equal, by the terms of the Constitution 
which prevailed at this period, there was no choice, and the 
election was thrown into the House of Representatives, to be 
decided which should be President, Jefferson or Burr. After 
a contest of seven days, on the thirty-sixth ballot Thomas 
Jefferson was elected President, and Aaron Burr was made 
Vice-President. The name of the Republican party now began 
to be changed to the Democratic. 

Water was tirst introduced into Boston, by a private corpo- 
ration, from Jamaica Pond, about eight miles distant. 
1801 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr commenced their terms of 
office as President and Vice-President, respectively, on the 4th 
of March. 

The President despatched u small squadron to the Mediter- 
ranean, to protect American commerce from the depredations of 
the cruisers of Tripoli. 

The exports this year from South Carolina were 65,000 
barrels of rice ; 8,000,000 lbs. of cotton ; 8,500 barrels of 
indigo, and 5,996 hogsheads of tobacco. 

There were at this time two hundred newspapers published 
in the United States, of which number seventeen were dailies. 

The compound blowpipe was invented by Professor Robert 
Hare of Philadelphia. 

Congress established a navy-j'^ard at Brooklyn, L. I. 

Buffalo was laid out into town-lots. There were at that 
place at this time one tavern, five dwellings, and one store, all 
built of logs. 

Philadelphia commenced, on the 27th of June, to be supplied 
with water conveyed through pijjes laid in the streets. 

The Evening Post issued its first number, at New York, on 
the 16th of November. It was edited by William Coleman, and 
supported the Federal party. 

The pillory was used for the last time in Boston on the 22d 
of November. 
1803 Ohio was authorized by congress to be erected into a State, 
and admitted into the Union. The admission was consummated 
the next year. The number of its white inhabitants was esti- 
mated at about 75,000. — ~ 

Georgia ceded to the United States all her western territory 
upon condition that congress should not prohibit slaverj* in 
that district. 

A manufactory of sheet- copper was started in Massachusetts, 
which was the onlj^ one of the kind in the United States. 

Congress established a military academy at West Point. 

The first newspaper published in Mississippi was issued at 
Natchez, and called The Natchez Gazette. 
1803 The United States purchased from France all of Louisiana, 
for the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. This purchase em- 
braced all the country west of the Mississippi River and east of 
the Rocky Mountains, and from the Mexican dominions on the 
south to Canada on the north. Governor Claiborne, of Missis- 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 63 

sippi Territory, and General Wilkinson were appoiuled com- 
missioners by congress to receive formal possession of the 
territory. Upon their arrival at New Orleans, the Commissary 
of France, acting in behalf of the French Government, formally 
delivered the country over to the United States commissioners, 
and vested Governor Claiborne with the powers before exercised 
by the French governor. 

Commodore Preble, commanding an American fleet, bom- 
barded the town and forts of Tripoli, on the MediteiTanean. The 
frigate Philadelphia, commanded by Captain Bainbridge, 
struck on a rock in the harbor of Tripoli on the 81st of October, 
and his otHcers and crew, numbering three hundred men, were 
taken prisoners. The officers were well treated, but the men 
were reduced to slaveiy. 

The tribe of Kankasia Indians ceded to the United States all 
the territory in its possession extending along the Mississippi 
River, from the Illinois to and up the Ohio. 

The lirst bank in Cincinnati was opened, and called The 
Miami E.\porting Company. 

The first cotton-mill in i^ew Hampshire was erected at Xew 
Ipswich. 
1804 A proposed amendment to the Constitution was ratified by 
the legislatures of three fourths of the several States, and became 
a part of the Constitution. This amendment concerned the 
manner of electing the President and Vice-President so as to 
designate which person was voted for as President, and which 
as Vice-President ; instead of the original article in the Consti- 
tution which required the electors to vote for two persons for 
these offices, of whom the one who had the highest number of 
votes was to be President, and the next highest, Vice-President. 

In the presidential election this year the Democratic party 
nominated Mr. Jefferson for re election as President, and George 
Clinton as Vice-President. The Federalists nominated Charles 
C. Pinckney for President, and Ruf us King for Vice-President. 
The Democratic candidates secvu-ed all the one hundred and 
seventy-six electoral votes, excepting fourteen. 

The Legislature of New Jersey passed an act on the 15th of 
February for the gradual al)olition of slavery in that State. It 
made all persons free that should be,born after the fourth day of 
the following July. The children of slaves to become free — 
males at twenty-five years of age, and females at twenty-one. 

Congress passed an act separating the district purchased from 
France into two territories, divided b}' a line drawn along the 
thirty-third parallel of north latitude. That on the south of 
this line was called the Territory of Orleans ; that on the north 
The District of Louisiana. Orleans contained at this time 
about fifty thousand inhabitants, of whom more than one half 
were slaves. The principal town in that territory was New 
Orleans, which contained a population of about eight thousand. 
St. Louis was the chief settlement in the District of Louisiana. 

The Delaware Indians ceded to the United States their title 
to an extensive territory east of the Mississippi. This tract 



64 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

contained all the country between the Wabash and the Ohio, 
south of and including the road from the Rapids to Vincennes. 

Tripoli was bombarded a second time in August. 

About this time Sunday-schools l)egan to be established in 
different sections of the country, and their introduction gradu- 
ally increased from this period. 

Fort Dearborn, on the site of the present city of Chicago, was 
established, and garrisoned by a company of about fifty men. 

The Middlesex canal, connecting Boston harbor with Concord 
River, was completed, and was the first canal in the United 
States opened for the transportation of passengers and mer- 
chandise. 

A conflagration in New York destroyed property valued at 
two millions of dollars. 

The Bichmond Enquirer issued its first number on the 9th of 
May, at Richmond, Va. 

On the llth of July, Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the 
Treasury under Washington, was fatally wounded by Aaron 
Burr, Vice-President of the United States, in a duel fought at 
Weehawken, in New Jersey, opposite the city of New York. 
This event caused intense excitement throughout the country, 
and was deeply deplored. 

1805 Thomas Jeiierson was inaugurated President of the United 
States, on the 4th of March, and George Clinton took the oath of 
office as Vice President. 

Large purchases of lands were made from different tribes of 
Indians in the western and also in the southern territories. 

A treaty of peace was concluded with Tripoli on the 3d of June. 

Michigan Territory was formed by act of congress from a 
portion of Indiana on the llth of January. 

The first dry-goods commission house established in the 
United States was opened at Philadelphia, for the sale of cot 
ton yarns and threads manufactured in Providence. 

The first cargo of ice exported from this country was shipped 
this year from Boston to Martinique, anil consisted of one hun- 
dred and thii-ty tons. 

1806 England being at war with France, declared the whole coast 
of the continent of Europe, from Brest to the Elbe, in a state of 
blockade. France retaliated by declaring the British isles 
under blockade, and forbade the introduction into France of 
the products of Great Britain and her colonies, whether in her 
own ships or those of other nations. These edicts inflicted 
great damage upon American commerce, which before their 
passage had been seriously interrupted by acts of the British 
Government. At last great feeling was excited throughout the 
coimtry, and most of the principal towns memorialized con 
gi-ess or the executive on the subject. Tlie continued impress- 
ment of American seamen afforded a further cause of com- 
plaint. On the 15th of April congress passed an act prohi- 
biting the importation of specific articles of British growth or 
manufacture, to take effect on the llth of November. 

The President sent an expedition consisting of twenty-eight 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 65 

men, under the command of Captains Lewis and Clarke, in the 
year 1804, to explore the Missouri, and to find the best com- 
munication from that river to the Pacific, antl they returned 
this year. They ascended the river more than three thousand 
miles, traced it nearly to its source, crossed the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and descended the Columbia River to the ocean. In this 
and the following year Lieutenant Pike ascended the Missis- 
sippi to its source, and ascertained the geography of that coun- 
try, whicli was not heretofore known. 
1807 The frigate Chesapeake, commanded by Commodore Bar- 
ron, sailing from Hampton Roads on a cruise to the Mediterra 
nean, was come up witli by the British ship of war Leopard, 
one of a squadron then at anchor within the waters of the 
United States. An officer was sent from the Leopard to the 
Chesapeake, with a note from the captain respecting some de- 
serters from some of his Britannic majesty's ships, supposed to be 
serving as part ot the crew of the Chesapeake, and required per- 
mission to search for them. Commodore Barron .sent answer 
that he knew of no such men as described ; that the recruiting 
ofiicers of the Chesapeake had been particularly instructed by 
the government not to enter any deserters from English ships, 
and that he had been instructed never to permit the crew of any 
ship under his command to be mustered by any ofiicers but his 
own. The Leopard, shortly after this answer was sent, ranged 
alongside of the Chesapeake, and commenced a heavy tire upon 
her. The Chesapeake, unprepared for action, made no resist- 
ance, when, having sulfered much damage, and lost three men 
killed and eighteen wounded, the commodore ordered his 
colors to be stixick, and sent an officer on board the Leopard to 
surrender his vessel. The commander of the British ship then 
took possession of tlie Chesapeake, mustered her crew, and, 
carrying off four or five of the men, abandoned the ship. 
Commodore Barron at once returned to Hampton Roads and 
reported the occurrence to the government. On receiving the 
information of this outrage, the President, by proclamation, 
interdicted the harbors and waters of the United States to all 
armed British vessels, and forbade intercourse with them. A 
United States vessel was dispatched with instructions to the 
American minister to London to call on the British Govern- 
ment for the satisfaction and security which the outrage 
required. 

In Noveml)er, the English ministry issued new orders in 
council, proclaiming a blockade of pretty much all Europe, 
and f(jrl)id(ling any trade in neutral vessels, unless they had 
first gone into some British port and paid duties on their car- 
goes. In December, France proclaimed a new decree, by which 
it was declared that any ship was lawful prize that had any- 
thing to do with Great Britain, that should pay it tribute, that 
should carry its merchandise, or that should be bound either to 
or from any of its ports. On the 22d of December, congress 
passed an act laying an embargo on all shipping in the ports of 
the United States. The departure of any vessel from any port 



66 HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES. 

of the United States bound to any foreign port Avas forbidden, 
except by the express commission of the President. Foreign 
armed vessels with public commissions, and foreign merchant- 
ships in ballast, or only with such cargo as they had when 
notitied of the act, wei"e excepted. Coasting-vessels were to give 
bonds in double the value of their cargoes, to reland the same 
in the United States. 

Aaron Burr was arrested on the charge of prosecuting a 
scheme for the separation of the western country from the 
Union, and the subjugation of New Orleans, but after a pro- 
tracted trial, no overt act of treason being proved against him, 
he was released. 

Tlie practicability and advantages of propelling boats by 
steam-power was for the first time demonstrated to the satis- 
faction of the public this year, by Robert Fulton. In the 
spring his steamboat, called the Clermont, was launched, and 
an engine procured from England put in her. On the 1st of 
August the first trip was commenced, and the boat ran from 
New York to Albany, a distance of one hundred and fifty 
miles, against the current, in thirty-two hours. The boat soon 
after ran regular trips between those places, and proved a 
success. 

A log cabin was erected on the site of the city of Rochester, 
which was the first house built there. 
1808 The operations of the embargo law, although the measure 
was sustained by a majority of the American people, was the 
occasion of great distress, particularly among the commercial 
community throughout the United States. Dependent as we 
were on foreign markets for the sale of our redundant products, 
now that we'Vere not permitted to export them, they fell to 
half their Avonted price, and even less. To many of the pro- 
ducers they did not repay the cost of production. The supply 
of foreign merchandise, too, which habit had made ncccssarv, 
and of which there was no domestic supplj" or an insufficient one, 
being cut off, its price rose proportionally high, and thus the 
expenses of the agricultural classes increased in the same pro- 
portion that their means of defraying them diminished. It 
l)ore still harder on the sailors and shi]3-o\vners, who were 
thrown entirely out of employment, and here the pressure was 
most severely felt in the States that were most addicted to navi- 
gation. It operated as a bounty on manufactures, ))ut this, at 
first, benefited but a small proportion of the community. 

In Boston and in Portland soup-kitchens were established in 
aid of the suffering. 

At the presidential election held this year, the candidates of 
the Democratic party were elected. James Madison receiveri 
one hundred and twenty-two electoral votes for President, and 
George Clinton one hundred and lljiiteen for Vice-President. 
The Federalists nominated Charles C. Pinckney for President, 
and Ruf us King for Vice-President, and each received forty seven 
votes. Of the Democratic votes, six were given to George 
Clinton for President. The States which supported U;e Fed- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 67 

eral nominations were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, antl Delaware. 

The Choctaws ceded to the United States their lands vrhich 
formed the southern part of Mississippi. A large part of 
Michigan Avas purchased from the Ottawas, Chippeways, 
Wyaudots, and Pottowatomies. 

By a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, it appeared 
that a great number of roads were built in the Eastern and Mid- 
dle States, while few had been constructed south of the Poto- 
mac. The roads were chie3y turnpikes, varying in cost from 
li'ss than a thousand dollars a mile to fourteen thousand. The 
toll collected paid an interest on the investment, in some 
instances less than three per cent, in others as high as eleven. 
Connecticut since 1803 had incorporated fifty turnpike com- 
panies. In New York, in less than seven years, sixty-seven 
companies for building roads had been incorporated, and 
twenty-one more to build toll-bridges. It was recommended 
that the National Government should spend two millions of 
dollars yearly for ten years in improving the communication 
between different parts of the Union. 

The importation of negro slaves into the United States was 
prohibited by act of congress in 1806, to take effect on the 1st 
of January of this year. 

The steaml)oat Phoenix, built by John Stevens, ran from 
Hoboken, on the Hudson, to Philadelphia. This was prob- 
ably the tirst steam-vessel ever navigated on the ocean. 

The tirst book printed west of the Mississippi was published, 
containing the laws of Louisiana Territory. 

The lirst newsjjaper published in St. Louis was issued in 
July, and nameil The Mmouri Gazette. The first one in 
. Indiana was published at Vincennes. 

The tirst settlement in Oregon was made by the Missouri 
Fur Company, by the establishment of a trading-post on the 
Lewis River. 

The tirst Temperance Society recorded, established in this 
country, was formed in March by forty -three members resid- 
ing in Saratoga County, N. Y. 

The tirst church edifice erected in "Williamsburg was com- 
pleted for the Methodists. 
1809 James jVIadison was inaugurated President of the United 
States, and George Clinton took the oath of office as Vice- 
President. 

Congress, in March, repealed the embargo law as to all 
nations excepting Great Britain and France ; and as to those 
nations all commercial intercourse witli them was interdicted, 
whether by exporting or importing, either directly or circuit- 
ously. An act was also passed for increasing the army and navy. 

On the 23d of April, Mr. Erskine, minister from Great 
Britain to the United States, pledged his court to repeal its 
anti-neutral decrees by the 10th of June ; whereupon the Presi- 
dent proclaimed that commercial intercourse would be renewed 
on that day. The king refused to ratify the arrangement made 



68 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

by Mr. Erskine, and recalled him. The President therefore 
issued a second proclamation, reviving the non-intercourse law. 
Mr. Jackson succeeded Mr. Erskine, and he soon giving 
oflfence to the American Government, the President refused 
all intercourse with him, and he was also recalled. 

Illinois Territory was formed and established by act of con- 
gi'ess, on the 3d of February. It embraced the present States of 
Illinois and Wisconsin. 

Sails were about this time made in Boston, from the tirst 
cotton-duck manufactured in this, if not in any other country. 

The first church Sunday-school formed in the United States 
was established at Pittsburg. From this period began the 
transfer of the control of Sunday-schools from individuals to 
churches, and the change made from paid to voluntary teach- 
ers, and from secular to religious instruction. 
1810 The Rambouillet decree, alleged to be designed to retaliate 
the act of congress which forbade French vessels to enter the 
ports of the United States, was issued by the French Govern- 
ment on the 23d of March. By this decree all American ves- 
sels and cargoes arriving in the ports of France, or of coiuitries 
occupied b}^ French troops, were ordered to be seized and con- 
demned. On the 1st of May congress passed an act exclud- 
ing British and French armed vessels from the waters of the 
United States ; but providing that if either of those nations 
should modify its edicts before the 3d of March ensuing, so that 
they should cease to violate neutral commerce, of which fact 
the President was to give notice by proclamation, and the other 
nation should not within three months after pursue a similar 
step, commercial intercourse with the first might be renewed, 
but not with the other. On the 2d of November the President 
issued his proclamation declaring that the French decrees were 
revoked, and that intercourse between the United States and 
France might be renewed. England, however, continued her 
restrictions on American commerce, and the better to enforce 
them, stationed ships of war before the principal ports of the 
United States, to intercept communication. On the 10th of the 
same month a proclamation Avas issued interdicting commer- 
cial intercourse with Great Britain. 

At this period the number of paper-mills in the United 
States was one hundred and eighty. The importation of rags 
was now commenced. 

The first agricultural exhibition held in this country was 
opened at Georgetown, D. C. 

The first lot of cotton goods printed from engraved rollers 
was put on the market from a factory near Philadelphia, on 
the 6th of October. The cylinder machine was imported from 
England, and the new process now began to supersede that of 
block-printing, previously in use. 

Astoria, in Oregon, was foxmded by the Pacific Fur Com- 
pany of Oregon, of which John Jacob Astor was the chief pro- 
prietor. 

The first foreign missionary societv founded in the United 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 69 

States was formed under the title of the " American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions." 
1811 Reparation was made by the Government of Great Britain for 
the attacli of the Leopard upon the Chesapeake. 

On the 16lh of May there was a tight betw^een the American 
frigate President, of forty -four guns, and the English sloop of 
war Little Belt, of eighteen guns. This vessel belonged to the 
British squadron which was ordered to the American coast to 
break up the trade from the United States to France, and the 
President was one of the few ships the government had for the 
protection of her commerce. The ships met a few miles south 
of Sandy Hook, chased each other in tiu'n, then tired into each 
other without any reasonable pretext for the first shot, which 
each accused the other of having tired. The loss on l)oard the 
English ship, in an encounter which lasted only a few minutes, 
was over thirty in killed and wounded, while only a single man 
was slightly wounded on board the President. The aifair cre- 
ated great excitement, and a court of inquiry was instituted, 
which found that the first shot was tired by the Little Belt. 

Hostilities with Great Britain being apprehended, congress 
passed an act for raising an additional force of twenty -five 
thousand men. 

A theatre in Richmond, Va., was burned on the evening of 
the 26th of December, when more than six hundred persons 
were present. Nearly seventy lives were lost on the occasion, 
and many more died afterward from injuries received. A fire 
occurred in New York on the 19th of May, destroying about 
one hundred buildings ; and at Newburyport on the 31st, con- 
suming more than two hundred buildings and other property, 
valued at six hvmdred thousand dollars. 

The frontier settlers being seriously alarmed bj^ hostile indi- 
cations on the part of the Indians, General Harrison, early in 
November, commanded an expedition for demanding satisf ad ion 
of the savages, and to put a stop to their threatened liostilities. 
On the 7th of November his camp was surprised aliout four 
o'clock in the morning by the enemy, and a bloody and doubt- 
ful contest ensued. The Indians were finality repulsed with 
considerable loss. General Harrison then destroyed their prin- 
cipal settlement, called Tippecanoe, and established forts in 
their country. 

The first steamboat which ran on the AVestcrn waters left 
Pittsburg on the 29th of October, bound for New Orleans, where 
it vvas intended to ply between that city and Natchez. Five 
steamboats were running betw^eeu New York and Albany at 
this period, and one between New York and Nev>' Brunswick, 
N. J. The first ferry-boat propelled by steam in this, and 
probably in any other country, conmienced to ply between New 
York and Hobokcn. 

At this period there was but one dry-goods store in Brook- 
lyn. Mails passed through Long Island but once a week. 

The manufacture of chemicals, the first of its kind in New 
England, was commenced at Salem, Mass. 



70 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The charter of the United States Bank, incorpoj-ated in the 
year 1791, expired this year, and its renewal was defeated in 
congress, principally throu,ii,h the influence of those who desired 
to establish smaller banks for theniselves. 
1812 Congress passed an act, on the 3d of April, establishing an 
embargo for the period of ninety days on all vessels in antl ar- 
riving in port ; and soon afterwards an act to prohibit the ex- 
portation of specie, goods, wares, and merchandise during the 
continuance of the embargo. In June, congress passed a bill 
declaring war with Great Britain, which was signed by the 
President on the 18th. The reasons given for this action were 
the impressment of American seamen by the British ; the seiz- 
ure of persons as British subjects on the high seas, sailing un- 
der the American flag ; the violation of tlie rights and the peace 
of our coasts b}' British cruisers ; the blockading of their ene 
m:es' ports without an adequate force ; and the orders in 
council affecting neutral rights. At the same lime a suspicion 
was suggested that the Indians had been incite d to hostile acts 
by British agents. 

The declaration of war found many opponents througliout 
the country, who strongly expressed their disapprobation of the 
policy of the government At the same time a majority of 
the people were exasperated by the aggiessive conduct of Eng- 
land, and supported the measures of congress to sustain the dig- 
nity of the nation. In Baltimore tlie contending pra'tits were 
particularly aggressive. The editors of the Federal Republican, 
a newspaper printed in that city, having published strictures on 
tlie declaration of war, a mob assembled at night, tore down 
their office, and destroj-ed their printing materials. The paper 
was afterwards established at Georgetown, and a house wa.s 
engaged in Baltimore from which the papers were to l)e dis 
tributed. One of the editors, with Genera) Henry Lee, General 
Lingan, and many others, having provided arms and ammuni- 
tion, they determined, if attacked, to defend themselves in tlie 
exercise of their rights. In the evening of the 27th of July a 
mob collected, and assailed the house with stones. While they 
were forcing the door several muskets were fired,. by wliich 
two persons were killed and seveial woimded. On the arrival 
of the military a compromise was effected. The persons within 
the house surrendered on a promise of safely in the prison. On 
the folloTsing night the mob reassem))led, broke open the jail, 
killed General Lingan, bruised and mangled eleven others, eight 
of whom, supposed to be dead, were thi'own in a henp in front 
of the jail. Some of the ringleaders Avere tried, but Ihey es- 
caped punishment. The I'uneral obsequies of Genei'al Lingan 
were attended at Georgetown by three thousand persons. 

The prosecution of the war commenced on the Canadian 
borders. The programme for the campaign was the invasi(ni 
of Canada at three points, namel}-, Detroit, and Niagara and 
St. Lawrence rivers. General William Hull, Governor of 
Michigan Territory, commenced crossing Uie liver at Detroit to 
the Canadian shore on the 12th of July, with a considerable 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. Vl 

force, with the intention of capturing- Port Maiden, about 
eighteen miles Ijelow. After spending nearly a month in in- 
action, Hull received intelligence of an advance of a British 
army under General Brock for the relief of the fort, and he im- 
mediately ordered his forces to abandon Canada and return to 
Detroit, much to the disappointment and indignation of his 
officers and men. Soon afterward the British projected a siege 
of Detroit; but scarcely had it commenced when Hull, on the 
16th of August, displayed a white flag from the fort and soon 
made its surrender, without having fired a shot or made any 
elfort to stay the course of the enemy. By the tenns of tlu; 
capitulation "all of Michigan Territory was surrendered to the 
British, a large amount of arms, ammunition, and provisions, 
and three thousand men as prisoners of war. General Hull 
was soon exchanged, and in the year 1814 was tried and con- 
demned bv court-martial for cowardice and sentenced to be 
.shot, but he was pardoned by the President on account of his 
services in the Revolutionary war. 

An American force miderthc command of General Van Rens- 
selaer crossed the Niagara River on the 13th of October, and made 
an attack on the British stationed on Qucenstown Heights. At 
tirst the Americans were successful, but later on were totally 
defeated, with a loss of about two hundred killed and wounded, 
and upwards of one thousaiul sui-rendercd as prisoners of war. 
In the battle General Brock, the British commander in-chief , 
was slain. 

A naval engagement occurred on the 19th of August oiT the 
American coast between the United States vessel Constitution, 
commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, and the British frigate 
Guerriere. After a severe action at close quarters of about half 
an hour the enem^^'s vessel surrendered, but was found to be so 
much injured she was burned. The enemy's loss was fifteen 
killed, sixty -four woundetl, and tMenty-one missing; of the 
Constitution, fourteen killed and wounded. On the 18th of 
October the Wasp, a United Stales schooner under the com- 
mand of Captain Jones, fell in with a squadron of British 
merchantmen, convoyed by the British sloop of war Frolic, off 
the coast of North Carolina. A severe engagement ensued, in 
which the American vessel was victorious. The sea was very 
rough, and it required much nautical skill to manage the ves- 
sels^ At one time they were so near that they touched each 
other, and the destruction wrought by their giins was terrible. 
At length the Americans boarded the enemy, but they found 
no man to oppose them. The decks were covered by the dead 
and wounded, and every man who was able had gone below, 
except the seaman at the wheel. Very soon after the "ictory 
was secured the Poictiers, a British seventy-four gun ship, ap- 
peared, and captured both the Wasp and her prize. 

On the 25th of October Captain Decatur, of the frigate 
United States, captured the British frigate Macedonian, after 
an action of an hour and a half. The loss of the enemy w^as 
thirty-six killed and sixty-eight wounded; of the Americans, 
twelve killed and wounded. 



72 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



On the 29th of December the Constitution, commanded bj 
Commodore Bainbridge, had an engagement with the British 
frigate Java which lasted three hours, in which the latter was 
captured by the Americans. In the course of the action the 
Java was reduced to a wreck. She was entirely dismasted, a 
large number of her guns were disabled , her hull was much shat- 
tered, and her bowsprit was shot away, while the Constitution 
did not lose a spar. The Java was bound to the East Indies 
and had on board upward of one hundred officers and men des- 
tined for service in the East. Her officers and crew numbered 
over four himdred, and of these twenty-two were killed aud 
one himdred and two wounded. The Constitution lost nine 
killed and twenty-five wounded. 

Congress passed an act admitting the Territory of Orleans 
into the Union as a State under the name of Louisiaaa. and 
changed the name of the territory lying north of it from that 
of the District of Louisiana to the Missouri Tcrritorj'. 

At the presidential election this year the Democratic candi- 
dates were successful, and the war policy of the government 
was sustained, which Avas the most important issue between the 
two parties. James Madison, the nominee of the Democrats for 
President, received one hundred and twenty-eight electoral 
votes, and Elbridge Gerry one hundred and thirty-one votes for 
Vice-President. The Democratic party, however, in the State 
of New York nominated De Witt Clinton against Mr. Madison, 
and Jared Ingersoll against Mr. Gerr3'. Those nominations 
were also supjiortcd by the Federalists throughout the countrj*, 
Clinton receiving eighty-nine and Ingersoll eighty-six electoral 
votes. 

Columbus in Ohio was laid out and made the capital of the 
State. The seat of government for Pennsylvania was removed 
from Lancaster to Harrisburg. Eochester in New York was 
surveyed into lots, and a post-office and store were established 
there. 

The scarcity of Virginia bituminous coal, which, up to this 
time, was thai principally in use, incited furtlier experiments 
in introducing anthracite. Nine wagons loaded with that coal 
were hauled to Philadelphia from a distance of one hundred 
and six miles, tw^o of which were sold at the cost of transporta- 
tion and the remainder given away, and diificulty was experi- 
enced in finding persons who would accept it. Tlie owner of 
the coal 'larrowly escaped prosecution for swindling by those 
who had made \insuccessful trials to burn the "stone," as it 
was called. 

The first manufacture of j^ins in this country w^as commenced 
at New York by some English workmen, who Irought with 
them to this country the necessary imiilements. The business 
was encouraged by the high price of pins, which had advanceil 
to one dollar per paper; but it was abandoned at the close of 
the war, and the article then continued to be imported as before. 

The first cotton-mill at Fall River, Mass., was erected and 
put into operation. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 73 

The first steam-ferrj' between New York and Jersey City was 
established in August, and about the same time one went into 
operation between Philadelphia and Camden. 

The first rolling-mill established in Pittsburg was erected 
this year. 
1813 James Madison was inaugurated President of the United 
States, and Elbridge Gerry took the oath ol' office as Vice- 
President. 

The scene of military operations this year continued princi- 
pally on the Canadian frontier. 

On the 22d of January, Brigadier-General Winchester of 
the United States army, and nearly five hundred officers and 
men, were made prisoners at Frenchto\\T), in Canada, by a di- 
vision of the British army from Detroit. 

General Dearborn embarked on the 25th of April, with a force 
of seventeen hundred men, at Sackett's Harbor, for the purpose 
of capturing the British stores at York — now Toronto. The 
landing was succe.ssfull}' effected, in spite of the enemy's re- 
sistance, and an assault conducted under General Pike, when, 
during the advancing movement, the magazine blew \ip, kill- 
ing and wounding several hundred men, and among the latter 
the commanding officer, who did not long survive. The Amer- 
ican troops, however, soon rallied and carried the place, and 
captured seven hundred and fifty prisoners, together with a 
large amount of baggage and public property, the British gen- 
eral and the remainder of his forces escaping with much diffi- 
culty. The American squadron returned to Sackett's Harbor, 
and soon after set sail for the Niagara frontier. The British, 
taking advantage of thi** movement, proceeded to Sackett's 
Harbor, and landed a force of one thousand men under Sir 
George Prevost. The small body of American regulars left to 
defend the place made an effectual resistance to the enemj-'s 
approach; and General Brown meanwhile rallied the militia, 
which at first had given way, and marched them towards the 
landing. Sir George, apprehending this movement as designed 
to cut off his retreat, withdrew in great haste to his boats and 
sailed away. 

On the same day that the British were repulsed at Sackett's 
Harbor, the American expedition made an attack on Fort St. 
George, on the Niagara frontier, and captured it, taking above 
seven hundred and fifty prisoners. 

On the 2d of May the British attempted to capture, by as- 
sault. Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, but were repulsed 
with a loss of about one hundred and fifty men. 

A movement was commenced in Sei^tember by a large body 
of soldiers under General Harrison against the British and 
their Indian allies at Detroit and Maiden. On the 27th the 
troops embarked on the fleet, and were transported to Maiden ; 
but on their approach the British destroyed tlie fort and public 
stores, and retreated along the river Thames, where they were 
pursued by the Americans. On the 5th of October, a severe 
battle was fought between the two armies, in which the Ameri- 



74 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

cans were victorious. In this battle the famous chief Tecum- 
seh was killed, and the Indians tied. The British loss was 
about six hundred and seventy in killed, Avounded, and prison- 
ers. On the 29th of September the Americans took possession 
of Detroit, which, on the approach of Harrison's army, had 
been abandoned by the British, and General Harrison i&'sucd a 
proclamation re-establishing the government of Michigan. 

A body of Americans were defeated in a battle at Williams- 
burg, Upper Canada, with a loss of about three hundred and 
fifty men. 

Fort Niagara was surprised by the British on the 19th of 
December, and of the three hundred men composing the garri- 
son, no more than twenty escaped. 

On the 30th of the same month the British proceeded to Buf- 
falo aufl burned the entire village. 

On the 10th of September, Commodore Perry, with a fleet of 
three brigs, a ship, and live schooners, carrying fifty four guns, 
made an attack on a Britisli squadron of six vessels, carrying 
sixty-three guns, on Lake Erie, and captured the entire fleet. 

On the 13th of June three British frigates entered Hampton 
Roads. Two days afterwards they were reinforced by thirteen 
vessels. On the 22d an action took place in Chesapeake Bay, 
between a detachment of the British fleet and an American 
naval force, manned by four hundred and eighty Virginia 
militia and one hundred and fifty sailors, in which the British 
lost in killed, wounded, and drowned about twelve hundred men. 

On the 1st of June Captain James Lawrence, commanding 
the United States frigate Chesapeake, sailed out of Boston har- 
bor, and engaged the British frigate Shannon. The Chesa- 
peake was captured in an action of eleven minutes, and Cap- 
tain Lawrence mortallj^ wounded. 

The United States sloop of war Argus was captured by the 
British sloop of war Pelican, in St. George's Channel, on the 
14th of August; and on the oth of September the British brig- 
Rover was captured by the United States brig Enterprise, off 
Portland. The British sloop of war Peacock was taken by the 
American sloop of war Hornet, but was retaken by the British 
.ship Poictiers. — -^ 

The British under Admiral Cockburn took possession of 
Havre de Grace, in Maryland, on the 3d of May, and plun- 
dered and burned the town. 

A conflagration occurred at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, 
on the 32d of November, and destroyed upwards of three 
hundred buildings. 

The first stereotj'ping in America was done by Mr. Bruce at 
New York; also by Mr. Watts, who printed a catechism, which, 
it is believed, was the first book issued from stereotype-iilatcs in 
this country. 

The Albany Argus issued its first number on the 13th of Janu- 
ary at Albany, N. Y. The first successful daily paper pub- 
lished in Boston was called the Daily Advertiser, and issued its 
first number on the 3d of March. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ,0 

The first steam ferry-boat between New York and Brooklyn 
commenced running: on the lOlli of I\Ia3\ 
1814 The war continued on the northern frontier. On the 3d of 
July, the American forces, consisting of about three thousand 
men, under the command of Generals Scott and Ripley, crossed 
the Niagara River, and took possession of Fort Niagara with- 
out opposition. On the 4th, General Brown with two thousand 
men aclvanced to the village of Chippewa, to attack the British 
force there intrenched under General Riall. On the 5th the 
British general drew out his troops and offered battle, but was 
compelled to retire with a loss of five hundred men. On the 
35th the advance of the two armies again encountered at Lun- 
dy's Lane, not far from the Falls. The battle was obstinately 
fought by the advance on each side till the main body came up. 
The battle lasted from four in the afternoon until midnight. 
The loss of the British was upwards of eight hundred in killed 
and wounded, besides two hundred men and twenty officers as 
prisoners. The British general was wounded and taken prisoner. 

On the 15th of August a large British force made an assault 
on Fort Erie, and were repulsed with great loss. 

On the 11th of September an American fleet on Lake Cham- 
plaiu, under Captain Macdonough, in an action with a British 
squadron of superior force, lasting about two hours and a half, 
sunk or captured the entire fieet of the enemy. The British 
commander was killed, and nearly nine hundred of his men ta- 
ken prisoners. 

It was the declared intention of the British to lay waste 
the whole American coast, from Maine to Georgia. Their first 
attack, as a part of this plan, was made earl}* in April on a part 
of Saybrook, called Pettipauge, near the mouth of the Con- 
necticut River, where they destroj^ed twenty-five ves.sels. 

About the middle of August a British squadron of between 
fifty and sixty sail arrived in the Chesapeake, with troops des- 
tined for the attack on Washington, the capital of the United 
States. A body of five thousand of them having landed, an ac- 
tion was fought at Bladensburg, six miles from Washington, in 
which the Americans were repulsed, and the British advanced 
towards the capital. Upon their apiiroach the President and 
heads of departments fied from the town. The British took 
possession of Washington, burned the Capitol, the President's 
house, the public offices, the arsenal, the navy -yard, and the 
bridge over the Potomac. On the 29th the city of Alexandria 
capitulated to the British. On the 11th of September the 
British admiral appeai'ed at the mouth of the Patapsco, foui-- 
teen miles from Baltimore, with a fieet of fifty sail. The next 
day six thousand land forces were disembarked at North Point, 
and commenced their march towards the city. On the 12th a 
battle was fought, in which the Americans were compelled to 
retreat. The British, however, were repulsed in an attack on 
FortMcHenry, and abandoned the attempt to get possession of 
the city. They retired to their shipping on the 14th, and soon 
after left the Chesapeake. 



76 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



On the 11th of July, a British fleet took the town of East- 
port, in Maine ; on August 9th, they bombarded Stonington, in 
Connecticut ; on the 1st of September they took possession of 
Castine, in Maine. 

The naval oi^erations at sea were continued with various suc- 
cess. On the 28th of March, the United States frigate Essex, 
after a desperate action, was captured in the Bay of Valparaiso, 
in South America, by a British frigate and a sloop of war. On 
the 29th of April, the United States sloop of war Peacock cap- 
tured the British brig Epervier off Canaveral, Florida, after an 
action of forty-five minutes. 

The Indians continued their hostilities at the South whicli 
they had commenced in the preceding year. In January, Gen- 
eral Andrew Jackson made an excursion into their country, and 
defeated them in several engagements. 

On the 34th of December, a treaty of peace was signed at 
Ghent between the plenipotentiaries of Great Britain and the 
United States. 

Delegates appointed by the legislatures of the several States 
in New England met at Hartford in convention on the 15th of 
December. The proceedings took place with closed doors, but 
the journal was afterwards made public. The convention em- 
bodied their views in a report, which was immediately made 
public and extensively circulated. It was a statement of griev- 
ances, many of which were real, but which necessarily arose 
out of a state of war, and a recommendation of several amend- 
ments to the Constitution. As the news of peace arrived soon 
after the convention adjourned, the causes of disquiet were re- 
moved ; but as the delegates were all of the Federal party, the 
convention, before and after their meeting, was denounced in 
the severest terms by the administration, as being treasonable 
to the general government, and the name of the "Hartford 
Convention" became with the Democratic party a tenn of re- 
proach. 

Congress passed an act on the 23d of December, establishing 
new rates of postage after the 1st of the following February. 
The rates on letters were to be as follows, ^iz., for any distance 
not exceeding forty miles, twelve centi^^ between forty and 
ninety miles, fifteen cents; between ninety and one hundred 
and fift}' miles, eighteen and three quarters cents ; between one 
hundred and fifty" and three hundred miles, twenty-five cents; 
between three hundred and five hundred miles, thirty cents ; 
and over five hundred miles, thirty-seven and one half cents. 
Double letters to be double price. 

Suspension of specie payments was declared by the banks in 
New Orleans, in April ; in Philadelphia and the District of 
Columbia, in August ; and in September by nearly all in the 
Middle and Southern States. 

The ' ' Star-Spangled Banner" was first sung at the Holliday 
Sti-eet Theatre, in Baltimore, in October. 

The first newspaper in Illinois was published about this time, 
at Kankaskia, and called The Illinois Intelligencer. 



HISTORY OF TlIK UXITEI) STATKS. i I 

The first religious newspaper publisbed in America was 
issued at Cbillicothe, Ohio, and called T/ie Recorder. 

The manufacture of carriages was commenced at Albany and 
at New Haven. 

The town of Williamsburg, L. I., contained at this period 
seven hundred and fifty-nine inhabitants. 

1815 The last battle of the war took place before New Orleans, on 
the 8th of January, between the British troops, consisting of 
twelve thousand men, commanded by General Packenhani, 
and the Americans, amounting to six thousand, under General 
Jackson. About two weeks before, a large British force landed 
about six miles below New Orleans for the purpose of attack- 
ing that city. A few days after landing. General Jackson 
ordered a movement to check the advance of the enemy, and 
defeated them in a battle with severe loss. On the 1st of Jan- 
uary, the British attacked General Jackson's line of defence 
and were repulsed. Upon another attack on the 8th. thej' were 
defeated with great slaughter, and retreated to their landing- 
place, where they embarked and sailed away. 

The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United 
States, concluded at Ghent, was ratified by the President on the 
17th of February. 

War was declared in March by the United States against 
Algiers. The causes for this step were, that the Dey of Al 
giers had violently and without just cause obliged the consul 
of the United States and all American citizens in Algiers to 
leave that place in violation of the treaty subsisting between 
the two nations ; that he had exacted from the consul a large 
sum of money, to which he had no just claim ; and that these 
acts of violence and outrage had been followed by the capture 
of, at least, one American vessel and her crew, and bj' the seiz- 
ure of an American citizen on board of a neutral vessel ; that 
the captured persons were yet held in captivity ; that efforts to 
obtain their release had proved abortive ; and that there was 
some re;\son to believe they were held by the Dey as means 
by which he calculated to extort from the United States a de- 
grading treatj'. An expedition was accordingly ordered to the 
Mediterranean, under the command of Commodore Bainljridge. 
Before its arrival, a squadron under the command of Commo- 
dore Decatur captured an Algerine brig of war and an Alger- 
ine frigate of forty-four guns and six hundred men. Decatur 
then hastened to the port of Algiers, where he readily obtained 
a treaty of peace, bj- the terms of which the claims and de- 
mands of the United States were wholly satisfied. He also ob- 
tained indemnity from Tunis and Tripoli, and procured the 
release of captives held by those powers. 

The water-works at Fairmount, for supplying Philadelphia 
with water, were completed. 

Cincinnati contained at this period about eleven hundred 
buildings and six thousand inhabitants. 

1816 Treaties were concluded with several tribes of Indians at the 



V8 HISTORY OF THE VNITED STATES. 

South, by which they ceded large tracts of land to the United 
States. 

The second religious newspaper published in the United 
States was issued at Boston, on the 3d of January-, under the 
name of The Recorder. 

Indiana was admitted as a State into the Union. 

Upwards of seven thousand emigrants arrived at New York^ 
this year. 

Congress passed an act establishing a National Bank for 
twenty years, with a capital of thirty-live millions of dollars ; 
the main office to be at Philadelphia, with branch-offices at 
such places as might be designated by the board of directors. 
The United States Government was to take seven millions of dol- 
lars of the stock. 

At the presidential election of this year, James Monroe 
for President, and Daniel D. Tompkins for Vice-President, 
were the candidates of the Democratic party, and they re- 
ceived one hundred and eighty-three electoral votes. The Fed- 
eralists nominated Rufus King for President, who received 
thirty-four votes. Their votes for Vice-President were divided 
among several persons. 

The first Episcopal church erected in Louisiana, was 
opened on the 14th of April, at New Orleans. 

The first steamboat which appeared at Charleston, S. C, ar- 
rived there from Savannah, on the 23d of June. 

Travelling between New York and Philadelphia, at this time, 
was accomplished between sunrise and sunset. 

The common council of New York forbade chimney-sweep- 
ers from crying their trade in the streets. 

The first savings-banks established in the United States were 
formed this year. The Savings Fund Society of Philadelphia 
Avas opened for business on the 2d of December ; and the Pro\i- 
dent Institution for Savings, at Boston, on the i3th of the same 
month. The Bank of Savings was founded at New York, at 
a public meeting, held on the 25th of November, but did not go 
into operation until the 3d of July, 1819. 

The lighting of streets with gas was first established in the 
United States at the citj^ of Baltimoi-cr^ At Philadelphia, a 
theatre was thus lighted on the 25th of November, and it was 
the first place of amusement in America illuminated iu that 
manner. The common council of the city of New York dis- 
cussed measures for its introduction there. 
1817 James Monroe was inaugurated President on the 4th of 
March; and Daniel D. Tompkins took the oa'h of office as 
Vice-President. 

Mississippi was divided; the eastern portion being erected 
into the Territory of Alabama, and the western portion admit- 
ted into the Union as a State, on the 10th of December. 

On account of the increasing display of hostile intentions hj 
the Seminole Indians, the government on the 26th of December 
directed General Jackson to rejiair to Fort Scott, and assume 
the immediate command of the forces in tliat quarier of the 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 79 

southern department. The regular forces there at this lime 
were about eight hundred, and one thousand more were added 
from the mihtia of Georgia. The strength of the Indians was 
estimated at twenty-seven hundred. 

The Hartford Times made its first appearance at Hartford, 
Conn. 

Work commenced in building the Erie Canal on the 4th of Juh^ 

Property valued at one million of dollars was destroyed by a 
flood in the Kentucky River. 

The first bank established in Vermont ^vas incorporated by 
the legislature, to be located at Windsor. The State exacted a 
bonus from the institution. 

The first steamboat which was seen at St. Louis arrived there 
from Louisville on the 2d of August. 

The first regular line of packet ships between Xew York and 
Liverpool was established, and called the "Black Ball Line." 
It consisted at first of four ships of four hundred to five hun- 
dred tons each. 

The first institution in the United States for the instruction 
of the deaf and dumb went into operation at Hartford, Conn., 
on the 17th of April, with a class of seven pupils. 

1818 Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State on the 3d of 
December, and the seat of government was removed from Kas- 
kaskia to Vaudalia, where it remained until its removal to 
Springfield in the year 1839. All the territory lying north of 
Illinois and Indiana was annexed to Michigan. 

Congress enacted that the national flag should consist of 
thirteen stripes with twenty white stars on a blue field, and 
that a star should be added, from time to time, au additional 
States should be admitted into the Union. 

The Indians of Ohio ceded by treaties all their lands in that 
State to the government. The Chickasaws also ceded all the 
land lying between the Mississippi and the northern course of 
the Tennessee. 

The remains of General Montgomery, the hero of Quebec, 
were transferred, at the expense of tlie State of New Y(.rk, 
from their resting-place in Canada, and were deposited, ^vi;h 
military honors, on the 8th of July, beneath the mural tomb in 
front of St. Paul's Church, in the' city of New York. 

The first steamboat on Lake Erie was launched near Buffalo, 
and commenced its first trip to Detroit on the 23d of August. 

The first religious newspaper in the United States devoted to 
the Methodist Society was established at Boston. 

Shoe-pegs became introduced about this time. 

On the 19th of March a powder-mill near Wihnington, Del., 
blew up killing thirty -five persons. The shock ^\as felt forty 
nriles distant. 

The principal part of Table Rock, at Niagara Falls, broke 
off by its own weight, and fell into the gulf below. 

The first savings-bank in Baltimore was established. 

1819 A treaty for tlie cession of the Floridas to the United States 
by Spain was signed at Washington on the 23d of February. 



80 HISTORY OF THE UXITEI) STATES. 

and ratified by the United States ; but in August the King of 
Spain refused to ratify it. It was ratified, however, in 1821. 
By the terms arranged, the United States Government was to 
pay the sum of five millions of dollars, and cede to Spain its 
disputed title to the vmdefined territory of Texas. 

Treaties were concluded with the Kickapoo and Chippewa 
tribes of Indians, by which they ceded large tracts of land in 
Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois to the United States. 

Alabama was admitted into the Union on the 14th of Decem- 
ber as a State. That part of the Missouri Territory lying south 
of the latitude of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes was erected 
into a separate district called the Arkansas Territory, and was 
organized under a territorial government. 

The settlement of Indianapolis was commenced. At the end 
of the year there were fifteen families in the place. 

A case relating to Dartmouth College, the adjudication of 
which was considered of great importance as affecting other 
corporations, was decided by the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Its opinion was that the charter granted by the British 
crown to the trustees of Dartmouth College in the year 1769 
was a contract within the meaning of tliat clause of the Consti- 
tution of the United States, wliicii declares that no State shall 
make any law impairing the obligations of contracts ; that the 
charter was not dissolved by the Revolution ; and that an act of 
the legislature of the State of New Hampshire altering the 
charter without the consent of the corporation was unconstitu- 
tional and void. 

The first periodical published in the United States devoted to 
agriculture commenced its issue on the 2d of April, at Balti- 
more, under the name of the American Farmer. 

The first religious newspaper devoted to the Baptist denomi- 
nation appeared] at Boston, in May, under the title of the 
Watchman and Reflector. 

The Analectic Magazine, for July, contained the first pub- 
lished specimen of American lithograpliic printing, an art but a 
short time before introduced from Germany into England. 
The stone was procured from Munich. 

Up to this time forty steamboats had been built on the west- 
ern waters, seven of which liad been wrecked and abandoned. 

On the 19th of May, the first steamboat which navigated on 
the Missouri River arrived there from St. Louis on a passage of 
seven days' sailing. The first steamboat on Lake Huron ap- 
peared there in June. 

A conflagration at Wilmington, N. C, destroyed more than 
one hundred and fiftj- dwellings and stores, which, with other 
property consumed, were valued at one million of dollars. 

A fire raged for about three weeks in the forests near Spring- 
field. N. J., consuming as estimated about three thousand acres 
of timber. 

The yellow-fever appeared in many of the Southern cities this 
year. In New Orleans, upwards of twelve himdred died during 
a period of sixty daj^s ; in Natchez, business was suspended, and 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 81 

those that were able fled the city. In Mobile, Savannah, 
Charleston, and Baltimore large numbers died from the disease. 

The introduction of the secret society of Odd Fellows was 
instituted in this country on the 26th of April by five members 
at Baltimore, who organized a lodge under the name of Wash- 
ington Lodge, No. 1, of Odd Fellows. A charter was soon 
afterwards obtained from the " Manchester Unity," of England, 
for the Washington Lodge, as the Grand Lodge of Maryland 
and the United States. 

The first specimen of patent or japanned leather produced in 
this country was made as an experiment by Seth Boyden of 
Newai'k, N. J. In 1822 he commenced its manufacture on a 
small scale, and about the j^ear 1826 established a large fac- 
tory for its production. 

The first steamship v/hich ever crossed the Atlantic sailed 
from Savannah about the 24th of May, and arrived at Liver- 
pool on the 20th of June. All its coal was consumed within 
ten or twelve days, and the remainder of the voyage was made 
under sail. The steamer was built in New York for some citi- 
zens of Savannah ; was of about three hundred and eighty tons, 
and named the Savannuh. The experiment did not demon- 
strate the utility of steam for transatlantic voyages. 
1820 The district of Maine was separated from Masachusetts in 
the preceding year, formed into a separate State, and admitted 
into the Union on the 3d of March. 

Congress passed an act prohibiting any citizen of the United 
States from engaging in the slave-trade under the penalty of 
death. 

At the presidential election held this year, James Monroe was 
re-elected President, and received all the electoral votes except- 
ing one. Daniel D. Tompkins received all the electoral votes 
excepting fourteen, for a second term as Vice-President. The 
former distinctions of party had at this time almost if not quite 
disappeared, and new questions of great national interest arose 
to divide public sentiment. Among the most prominent of the 
su))jects agitated were additional i)rotection to American manu- 
factures, internal improvements by the general government, and 
the acknowledgment of the independence of the South Ameri- 
can republics. 

At this period there was great pecuniary distress throughout 
the country. There had been heavy importations of foreign 
merchandise, which tended to depress prices and to ruin those 
engaged in manufactures in the United States. The currency 
was also in a deranged state ; a spirit for banking companies 
prevailed, and an unusually large number of those institutions 
were authorized in many of the States of the Union. The coun- 
try was flooded with paper-monej" issued by these banks, many 
of which were unable to redeem their bills when presented, and 
the most disastrous results soon followed. The outstanding pa- 
per currency, which in 1815 and 1816 was estimated to be one 
hundred and ten millions, had been reduced to about forty five 
millions by the contraction of bank discounts. Flour, which 



82 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

was selling from ten to fifteen dor.ars a barrel in 1817, was now 
five lo six. Tlie prices of other staples were equally reduced ; 
all manufacturing interests suffered severelj% factories and work- 
shops were closed, and the workmen thrown out of employ- 
ment. 

Little Rock was laid out, and established as the seat of govern- 
ment for Arkansas Territory. Memphis, in Tennessee, was also 
laid out. 

At this period the city of New York contained a population 
of 123,706; Philadelphia, 108,116; Baltimore, 62,738; New 
Orleans, 21,176 ; Charleston, 24,780 ; Boston, 43,298 ; Wash- 
ington, 13,247 ; Cincinnati, 9732; Albany, 12,630 ; Providence, 
11,761 ; and Brooklyn. 5210. 

A conflagration at Savannah destroyed one half the town on 
the 11th of January. Four hundred and .sixty -three buildings 
were consumed, valued, with their contents, at four millions of 
dollars. On the 20th of June, one hundred and twenty of the 
best buildings in Troy, N. Y., were destroyed by fire, involving 
a loss of nearly one million of dollars. 

The first steamboat on the Arkansas River ascended to the 
village of Arkansas in May. The first steamboat on Lake Michi- 
gan made its first appearance there in July; it sailed fr©m De- 
troit to Green Bay, carrying two hundred passengers and a large 
cargo. 

The first steamship line established between New York and 
New Orleans conunenced running in June. 

The yellow-fever raged in Savannah during the summer and 
autumn, carrying off about seven hundred of the inhabitants. 
Many of the people fled, leaving three huncked and forty -three 
houses unoccupied. 

The first newspaper published in Arkansas appeared at Ar- 
kansas village under the title of The Arkansas Gazette. The 
New York Observer made its first appearance this year. 

About this time portable and, so-called, fire proof safes were 
introduced for sale iuto New York. Thej* were imported from 
France, and constructed of iron and wood. 

The first manufacture of carpenter's steel squares in the Unit- 
ed States was commenced at North Bennington, Vt. 

The great national road, the work of the general government, 
extending from Cumberland to Wheeling, was completed this 
year. It was fourteen years in process of construction, and cost 
seventeen hundred thousand dollars. The intention original!}" 
was to extend the road to the Mississippi. 

The first regular commencement of the anthracite- coal trade 
was made this year l)y the Lehigh Coal Company, an organiza- 
tion formed in July, 1818. The improvement of the navigation of 
the Lehigh River, bj' which shipments could be made to tide-wa- 
ter at small expense, and proper means of lighting the coal having 
been discovered, removed some of the ditticulties heretofore en- 
countered in attempting its introduction. Al)OUt three hundred 
and sixty five tons were shipped to Philadelphia during the year, 
but much difficulty was experienced in disposing of so large a 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 83 

quantity. The first experiment of manuf acturing iron by the 
use of anthracite coal was made at this time by some of the 
members of the Lehigh Coal Company. 

Daily mails were established between New York, Broolvh'n, 
and Jamaica. 

Thf> whale fishery business commenced about this time at 
New London. 

James Monroe was inaugurated President of the United States 
on the 4th of March, and Daniel D. Tompkins took the oath of 
ofiice as Vice-President. 

The treaty for the cession of the Floridas, concluded at Wash- 
ington on the 32(1 of Februarj', 1819, between Spain and the 
United States, having been ratified on the one part by the King 
of Spain and by the President of the United St ites on the other 
]iart, possession was taken of those provinces according to treatj'. 
On the 1st of July, General Andrew Jackson, who had been ap- 
l)oinled governor of the Floridas, issued a proclamation declar- 
ing that the government heretofore exercised over the said 
provinces under the authority of Spain had ceased, and that of 
the United States was establislied over the same; that the inhabi- 
tants thereof would be incorporated in the union of the United 
States as soon as it might be consistent with the Federal (Con- 
stitution, and admitted to the enjoyment of all the privileges, 
rights, and immunities of the citizens of tiie L^nited States; tliat 
in the mean time they would be maintained and protected in the 
free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and the religion thej^ 
professed, and that all laws and municipal regulations which 
Avere in existence at the cessation of the late government would 
remain in full force. 

Missouri was admitted into the Union as a State, after a vio- 
lent contest in Congress and intense excitement thi-oughout the 
country upon the subject whether it should or should not be 
admitted with a constitution giving its inhabitants the right to 
hold slaves. A compromise was at length eft'ected between the 
opposuig parties in Congress, by which slavery was permitted 
in Missouri, but forever prohibited in the territory of the United 
Stales, excepting Missouri, lying north of tlurt}--six degi'ees thirtj" 
minutes north latitude. 

The American Colonization Society secured from the African 
authorities of Cape Mesurado, by purchase, a tract of territoiy 
in that country for the establishment there of colonies of free 
blacks from the United States. A foundation of a settlement 
was laid near Mesurado River, to which was given the name of 
Liberia, and a new town was commenced and called Monrovia. 

Indianapolis was laid out as a town for the seat of govern- 
ment for Indiana, and given its present name. 

Lowell, in Massachusetts, was founded by a company which 
was subsequently organized under the name of the Merrimac 
Manufacturing Company, which purchased four hundred acres 
of land at that location for manufacturing purposes. The first 
mill was started in September, 1823. 

The remains of Major Andre were removed from their rest- 



84 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

ing-place at Tappan in August, and placed on board a Britisli 
frigate, to be transferred to England for interment in West- 
minster Abbey. 

The city council of Charlestown, S. C, passed an ordinance 
to prohibit the opening of night and Sunday schools for the in- 
struction of negro slaves. 

Severely cold weather was experienced in New York the 
latter part of January. The North River from Cortlandt Street 
to Jersey City was crossed on the ice by loaded sleighs. 

The first religious newspaper publii^hed in the United States 
devoted to the Unitarians, was issued at Boston on the 20th of 
April, and called The Christian Register. 

The receipts of anthracite coal at Philadelphia were ten 
hundred and seventy -three tons, all of which was mined by the 
Lehigh Company. 

1822 A conspiracy of negroes in Charleston, S. C, was discovered 
in June, and on trial seventy-two were convicted, thirty-five of 
whom were executed and the remainder sentenced to banish- 
ment. 

The Lehigh mines shipped twenty-four hundred and forty 
tons of coal to Philadelphia during this year. 

The first strictly commercial newspaper published in the 
United States south of Boston, was issued at New Orleans on 
the 27th of July, under the title of The Neio Orleans Prices- 
Current. 

The first new^spaper established in Indianapolis was pub- 
lished on the 28th of May. Owing to the irregularity of the 
mails, the paper was issued without established dates. 

At this period there was but one copper-rolling mill in the 
United States, and that was operated near Baltimore. 

The first Brooklyn Directory was issued in May. In 1796 
there was a publication called " The New York and Brooklyn 
Directory and Begister for 1796," but which contained the 
names only of those residing on two or three Brooklyn streets. 

Boston was organized under a city charter, and its first mayor 
elected. Gas as a means of illumination was adopted. 

The cotton-culture in Texas was commenced this year. 

The manufacture of cotton duck was begun at Paterson, N. J. 

The first regular steamship line between New York and Nor- 
folk commenced running in the autuma. 

1823 In October, the Erie Canal was finished between Rochester 
and Albany, and the first passage of boats was made on the 8th. 

The 3'cllow -fever ap]>eared at Natchez, and out of its popii- 
lation of three thousand, all, excepting between three and four 
hundred, fled the place. 

The first steam-power printing-press in the United States was 
put in operation in New York in June, printing an abridgment 
of Murray's English Grammar — the first work done. 

The manufacture of wine was commenced about this time in 
Cincinnati. 

The first three-story house erected in Brookljai was built this 
year. The first paving of streets was commenced on Sands 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 85 

Street, and houses were first given numbers. Henry Street 
was opened, the Apprentices' Library organized, and the first 
bonded warehouse in the town erected. At this time its popu- 
lation was about seven thousand. 

The New Yorli Gas Liglit Company was incorporated, but 
did not begin successful works until the year 1837. 
1824 By a treaty concluded between the United States and 
Russia, the southern boundary-line of their possessions on the 
Pacific was fixed at fifty-four degrees and forty minutes of 
north latitude. 

On the 13th of March a treaty was concluded between the 
United States and Great Britain for the suppression of the 
^ave-trade. By the terms of the treaty, vessels were to be em- 
ployed by each of the nations to cruise on the coasts of Africa, 
of the West Indies, and of America, and their commanders 
were to be authorized under certain restrictions to detain, ex- 
amine, capture, and deliver over for trial and adjudication by 
some competent tribunal any ship or vessel concerned in the 
illicit traffic of slaves, and carrying the flag of the other. 

General Lafayette having received an invitation from Con- 
gress to visit the United States, resolved to accept it. He ar- 
rived in the harbor of New York on the 15th of August, and 
proceeded to Staten Island, where he was received as a guest 
at the residence of the Vice-President. A committee of the 
corporation of the city of New York and a great number of 
distinguished citizens proceeded to Staten Island to give him 
welcome. An escort of steamboats, decorated with the flags of 
all nations, and bearing thousands of the citizens, brought him to 
the view of the assembled multitudes at New York, who mani- 
fested their delight at seeing him by shouts and cheers. At 
the City Hall the officers of the city and many citzens were 
presented to him, and he was welcomed by an address from 
the mayor. While he was at New York deputations from 
many of the principal cities arrived with invitations for him to 
visit them. After remaining a lew days at New York, he pro- 
ceeded to Boston, where he met with the same cordial recep- 
tion. Soon afterwards he returned to New York, visited Al- 
bany and the towns on the North River, and afterwards 
passed through the intermediate tOAvns to Vii'ginia, where he 
visited the tomb of Washington. He returnedto Washington 
during the session of Congress, and remained there several 
weeks. 

The custom of making nominations for President and Vice- 
President by caucuses of the members of Congress, which pre- 
vailed heretofore, became unpopular, and was broken up at 
this period. The result of the election this year showed that 
no choice for Presi^ient had been made by the electoral colleges, 
and according to the provisions of the Constitution, the decision 
was referred to the House of Representatives, which body was 
required to make a choice in such an exigency from the three 
names who had received the highest number of votes. John 
C. Calhoun received one hundred and eighty two votes for 



86 HISTORY or the united states. 

Vice-President against seventy-cigbt for all other-;, and was 
elected. For President, Andrew Jackson received ninelj-nine 
votes, John Quincy Adams eighty- four; William H. Crawford, 
forty-one; and Henrj^ Clay thirty-seven. The result in the 
House was the election of John Quincy Adams. 

Tallahassee was laid out, a settlement of the place commenced, 
and made the capital of Florida. 

The first bank in Brooklyn, called the Long Island Bank, 
and the first insurance company, called the Brooklyn Fire 
Insurance Company, were established. 

A confiagration took place in the forests of Suffolk County, 
Long Island, extending over nearly twenty thousand acres, and 
consumed, as estimated, as much timber as would have made 
from seventy to eighty thousand cords of wood. 

The Boston Courier appeared in Boston, on the 2d of March. 

Anthracite coal was first introduced at New York, this year. 
There was such prejudice against its use, that families were 
offered grates free of charge, and in some instances some coal 
besides, as inducements to try it. 

The j'ellow-fever raged at Kew Orleans with more violence 
than ever before, and compelled almost a complete .suspension 
of business. 

The manufacture of flannel by water-power was commenced 
at Amesbury, Mass., and a piece was exhibited at a Fair which 
is said to have been the first flannel produced in this or anj- 
other country, excepting that made by hand. 

The introduction of marble as a building material in Ts'ew 
York was commenced, and the first building erected with a 
marble front, excepting the Citj' Hall, was the American 
]\Iu3eum, on the corner of Broadway and Ann Street. Such 
was the prejudice of builders against its use, that they would 
not undertake its introduction, and a convict at Sing Sing was 
pardoned for the express purpose of superintending the work. 
1825 John Quincy Adams on the 4th of March was inaugurated 
President of the United States, and John C. Calhoun took 
tlie oath of office as Vice-President. 

Congress voted two hundred thousand dollars in money and 
twenty four thousand acres of fertile land in Florida, to 
Lafayette, as a reward and remuneration for his services to this 
country during the Revolutionary war. It was shown that in the 
six years from the year 1777 to 1783,Xafayette had expendcil 
for the American service, from Lis personal rcsoui-ces, the sum 
of one hundred and fort}' thousand dollars, and that he had 
left the enjoyments of rank and fortune to come and serve the 
American cause, and without paj'. He equipped and armed a 
regiment, and freighted a vessel with arms and ammunition, 
for the L'nitcd States service. It was yot until the year 17 1)4, 
when almost ruined by the French Revolution, that be would 
accept the naked pay, without interest, of a general officer for 
the time he had served. He was entitled to land as one of the 
oflicers of the Revolution, and eleven thousand five hundred 
acres had been granted to him, to be located on any of the public 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATKS. 87 

lands of the United States--. His agent located one thousand 
acres adjoining the city of New Orleans, and Congress after- 
wards, not being informed of that circumstance, granted the 
same ground to that city. His location was valid, and he was 
so informed; but he refused to adhere to it, sajing that he 
would have no contest with any portion of the American 
people. Lafayette made an extensive tour tlirough the South- 
ern and "Western States, and on the loth of June he, on his 
return, reached Boston. On the 17th he assisted at the cere- 
monies attendant upon laying the corner-stone of Bunker Hill 
monument, and then visited the principal places in Xew Eng 
land. On the 8th of September he bade adieu to the .shores of 
America, and started on his return voyage to France. 

A treaty was concluded with the Creek Indians, by which 
they agreed to accept lands westward of the Mississippi, in 
exchange for an equal number of acres in the State of Georgia 
to which they claimed the title. They also agreed to remove 
from Georgia to the new territory assigned to them. Treaties 
were also made with the Osages and Kan,sas tribes, by which 
they ceded vast territories to the United States. 

The first newspaper for Sunday sale and circulation in the 
city of Neu' York was issued, under the name of The Suit- 
day Courier, early in the year, but ^vas soon discontinued for 
want of patronage. 

The Erie Canal was completed its entire length in October, 
and early in November the event was celebrated with great 
enthusiasm. On the 26th of October, the Erie Champlain and 
Hudson Canal was completed. 

The Italian Opera was introduced into the United States, the 
lirst performance of which came olT at the Park Theatre, in 
New York, on the 29th of November. 

The homeopathic practice of medicine was first introduced 
into this country, by a physician who removed to the city of 
New York from Copenhagen, Denmark, where he had practised 
that system. 

The manufacture of Queensware, the first of its kind in the 
United States, was commenced at Philadelphia. 

The tinder-box, flint and steel, which iip to this time were the 
usual means by which fire was struck, were now being super 
seded by a new and better invention, consisting of a bottle tilled 
with an acid and cotton surmounted with phosphorized pine- 
sticks. 

By a report of the Comptroller of the State of New York, it 
appears that nearly ninety thousand dollars were paid out of the 
treasury during the preceding ten j-ears for the destruction of 
wolves in that State. 

An article appeared in a newspaper published in New York 
in October which stated that a lot on the Bowery two hundred 
feet in front and the same depth had been sold for one hundred 
and five thousand dollars, the purchaser intending to erect a 
theatre upon the plot. 



88 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

1826 The seat of government for Tennessee was changed from 
Murfreesborough to Nashville. 

An event occurred this year of a singular character, from 
which a powerful political combination grew into existence. A 
man named William Morgan, a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity residing in the western part of the State of New York, was 
reported to be engaged in a publication exposing the secrets of 
that society. The Masons in the vicinity were angry, and re- 
solved to prevent the publication, and made several forcible but 
ineffective attempts for that purpose. Morgan was soon missing, 
and the unsuccessful search for him excited an interest in the 
public mind which increased to a high degree of agitation. A 
committee was appointed at a public meeting to ascertain all 
the facts, and to bring to justice any criminals that might be 
found. It was discovered that he had been twice arrested on 
false charges, that he was taken from the Canandaigua jail in 
the evening about nine o'clock, gagged and bound, thrown into 
a can-iage, and hurried olf to Rochester. By i-elajs of horses 
and by different hands he was borne along until he was lodged 
in the magazine at Fort Niagara, where he was put to death. 
A great crime had apparentlj' been committed, and investiga- 
tion showed that Masons only were implicated in it. Arrests 
were made, but it was impossible to secure conviction where 
judges, sheriffs, juries, and witnesses were Masons. The excite- 
ment soon became political. It was alleged that Masonry held 
itself superior to the laws, and that Masons were mor(e loyal to 
their Masonic oaths than to their duty as citizens. Masonry, 
therefore, was held to be a fatal foe to the government and to 
the coimtry, which must be destroyed ; and in several town 
meetings in Genesee and Monroe counties. Masons, as such, were 
excluded from office. At the next general election the Anti- 
masons nominated a separate ticket, and they carried five 
counties against both the great parties. A State organization 
followed, and in the election of 1830 the Anti-Masonic candidate 
was supported by the National Eeptiblicans, and secured within 
eight thousand votes enough to insure an election. From a 
State organization the Anti Masons became a national party, 
and in 1832 nominated a presidential candidate, who was also 
supported by the National Republicans, and the union be- 
came the Whig party, which so triumphantly elected its presi- 
dential candidate in 1840. 

A railroad was put into operation on the 7th of October at 
Quincy, Mass., for the purpose of transporting stone from the 
granite quarries at that place to tide-water, a distance of about 
three miles. Granite sleepers were used, upon which timbers 
were placed, and on those flat bars of iron were spiked. 
The cars were drawn by horses. The novelty and advantages 
of this invention excited great attention. It has been slated 
through mistake that this railroad was tlie first one in America. 
There was a small road built before this one in the Lehigh coal 
district in Pennsylvania. 

The first daily newspaper published in Cincinnati appeared 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 80 

this year, under the title of llie Commercial Register. The 
first daily newspaper established at Rochester, N. Y., was 
issued on the 25th of October, and called The Rochester Daily 
Advertiser. The Richmond TFAigr appeared in Richmond, Va., 
and the Nero Orleans Bee at New Orleans. 

Earthen sewer-pipes were exhibited at a Fair held in Balti- 
more, in November, and that article soon became generally 
introduced from this time. 

The manufacture of palm-leaf hats in this country was com- 
menced in Massachusetts, the material having been imported 
from Cuba. 

The first manufacture of axes and other edge tools was com- 
menced this year, at Hartford, Conn. 

The manufactui'e of school-slates, the first of its kind in the 
United States, was established in Pennsylvania, near the Dela- 
ware River. 

The introduction of the mulberry-tree into the United States 
was made for a nursery at Flushing, L. I. The tree was im- 
ported from France. 

The English tragedian Macready made his first appearance 
on the American stage on the 2d of October, at the Park Thea- 
tre, in New York. 
1827 The era for the commencement of the construction of rail- 
roads in the United States dates from this year. The success 
of the small railroad at Quincy, Mass., demonstratetl the fact 
that much heavier loads could be drawn, and more easily with 
the same power, in cars with wheels running on iron rails than 
in wagons upon common roads, even when those roads were in 
the most passable condition. News of the success of railroads 
in England had just reached the United States, and had at- 
tracted much attention here, where the necessitj^ for improved 
highways was felt to be more imperative. At this period 
locomotives had not been used, even in England, and the first 
railroads there, as well as here, were intended for horse power 
only. As an evidence of the public sentiment of the time con- 
cerning railroads, the following extract from Kiles'' Register, of 
the od of January, 1829, is quoted, viz.: " The public mind is 
every day more and more settling into a belief that railroads will 
supersede canals, or at least be preferred, unless when the latter 
can be made under peculiarly favorable circumstances, for 
certain reasons, best fitted for some particular business. It is 
believed that railroads are much less expensive than canals as 
to their construction or repair, and transportation on them is 
far less liable to interruption on various accounts, and may be 
continued throughout the whole year. The ascent of consid- 
erable heights over which railroads shall pass, will possibly be 
assisted by stationary engines, or the use of additional horse- 
power ; but we rather think that from improvements now pre- 
sented, locomotive engines will never come into general use, 
the power necessary for the transportation of ponderous com- 
modities being so reduced as to become unworthy of much 
consideration compared with the work performed.'' The ad- 



90 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

vantages of railroads worked by horse-power over other known 
means of kind transportation were generally appreciated bj' tlie 
]3ublic. A charter was granted by the Legislature of Marylaad, 
for the construction of a railroad to connect Baltimore with 
Wheeling, and books for subscriptions to the stock were 
opened a^ Baltimore on the 20th of March of this year. The 
city made a subscription of five hundred thousand dollars, and 
fifteen hundred thousand dollars more were solicited. Upon 
closing the subscription-book on the 31st of March, it wns 
found that offers were made for a considerable amount more 
than twice that required. The projectors of the road in ask- 
ing for a charter, stated to the members of the legislature that 
the Avhole distance between Baltimore and Wheeling could be 
travelled at an average rate of four miles an hour. The en- 
thusiasm on the railroad question was not confined to Balti- 
more. The Legislature of Massachusetts by a large majority, 
authorized the ap]3oiniment of commissioners and an engineer 
for the purpose of determining a proper line of railroad be- 
tween the city of Boston and the Hudson River. In May a 
railroad was completed at Mauch Chunk, in Pennsylvania, for 
the transportation of coal from the Summit mines to the land- 
ing on the Lehigh. The cars ran down by gravity, and were 
drawn back by mules. 

At this period, Indianapolis contained twenty-five brick, 
sixty frame, and about eighty hewn-log houses ; a court-house, 
jail, and three churches. 

The population of Hartford w^as at this time six thousand 
nine hundred; of New Haven, seven thousand one hundred ; of 
Newark, N. J., six thousand five hundred; and of New Bruns- 
wick, six thousand seven hundred. 

The manufacture of fire-bricks was commenced at Baltimore 
Before this they weie obtained only from England. The gen- 
eral use of grates and furnaces was established about this 
time. 

The first lithographic establishment in the United States was 
started this year at Boston. The artists and materials were im- 
ported from England. 

About thib date the first store in this country for the sale of 
American hardware was opened at Philadelphia, by Amasa 
Goodyear and his son, of india-rubber celebrity. 

The Jmirnal of Commerce issued its first number at New 
York on the 1st of September. It was aided in starting by 
Arthur Tappan, and was established in the interests of Aboli- 
tionism. Eventually it came into the possession of David 
Hale and Gerard Hallock, and became a conservative oi'gan. 
The Mm-nincj Enquirer was started at New York in May ; and 
these two papers were rivals for the mercantile advertisements 
of the city, and tried to surpass each other in size, whence the 
term "blanket-sheets" was given them. To get the commer- 
cial news they established swift schooners and pony-expresses. 
In 1829 the Morning Courier was united to the Enqitirer, and 
in 1861 merged in the NetP York World. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 91 

1828 At the presidential election this year John Quiucy Adams 
was the candidate of the National Republican party, which ad- 
vocated a high protective tariff, and the aid of the government 
to be given in carrying out a system of internal improvements. 
General Andrew Jackson was the nominee of the Democratic 
party, which opposed those measures. After a spirited contest, 
in which much personal abuse was mingled. General Jackson 
was elected, receiving one hundred and seventy-eight of the 
two hundred and sixty -one electoral votes. The question of a 
protective tariff was now one of the main issues in party strife ; 
and a tariff act passed by Congress in May was an event which 
commenced a serious division between the North and South. 
In the early years of Federal legislation the duties imposed 
were all moderate, and the Southern States were as ready as 
any part of the Union in extending protection to home indus- 
try, and some of their statesmen were among the foremost in 
promoting that policy. As late as 1816 some of the Soutlieru 
statesmen were still in favor of protection. After that j-ear the 
tariff bills took a sectional aspect : the Southern States, with 
the exception of the sugar-planting interests in Louisiana, 
against them ; the New England States also against them ; and 
the Middle and Western States in their favor. After the .year 
1824 the South alone was against that policy. 

A newspaper, printed partly in English and partly in the 
Cherokee language, named The Phcenir, was published at New 
Echota. The types used were furnished by the United States 
Government. 

A three-story brick house, on a lot twenty-nine feet in front 
and one hundred and tifty feet in depth, Avith a brick stable in 
the rear, on Park Place, in New York, Avas sold at public auc- 
tion on the 25th of October for twenty-eight thousand eigUt 
hundred and fifty dollars A lot on Wall Street, twenty-five 
feet in front and one hundred and twelve in depth, was sold at 
private sale at about the .same time, for thirty-five thousand foiu' 
hundred dollars. The improvements upon it were of little 
value. 

An antiquarian book-store was established in Boston, and it 
was the first one of the kind opened in this country. 

The first damask table linen manufactured iu the United 
Slates was made this year at Pittsburg. 

The city of New York purchased from James Blackwell the 
island in the East River bearing his name, for the sum of thirty- 
two thousand dollars. The city afterAvards Avas obliged to pay 
an additional sum of twenty thou.sand dollars for the release of 
a doAver interest Avhicli Avas unexpectedly discovered to be a 
lien upon the property. 

The first edition of Webster's Dictionary' AA^as published. It 
Avas issued in two volumes, quarto. 

The first periodical devoted to agriculture, published south 
of Baltimore, was issued at the city of Charleston, under the 
title of the Southern AgrieultuHst. 

The fij'st periodical exclusivelv designed for the tastes of 



92 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

ladies, issued in the United States, was established at Boston, and 
called the Ladies Magazine. It was united with Qodey's Ladies' 
Book in Philadelphia in 1837. 

The first steamboat belonging in Boston commenced making 
excursion-trips in the harbor. It was called the Benjamin 
Franklin. 

A premium was awarded by the Franklin Institute in Phila- 
delphia, in October, for an exhibition of an assortment of malle- 
able-iron castings made by Setli Boyden of Newark, N. J. It 
was the first attempt in this countrj% known to the committee, 
to anneal cast-iron for general purposes. 

The first manufacture of varnish, except for individual use, 
was commenced at New York. 

The first manufacture, in this country, of paper from straw 
and hay was commenced at Meadville, Pa. The paper was of 
a yellow color, strong and smooth, and an edition of the New 
Testament is said to have been printed upon it, which cost only 
five cents a copy. Three hundred reams of the paper Avere 
shipped to Pittsburg on the 30th of November. 

The celebrated planing-machine patented by William Wood- 
worth was introduced, and acquired an extensive sale. 

The first trip of a locomotive upon a railroad in America was 
made upon the Carbondale and Honesdale Railroad in Penn- 
sylvania. The engine was made in England , and was run by 
Mr. Horatio Allen, under whose direcUon it had been built. 
This trip was made about one year before the first steam rail- 
road in England was opened. 

On the 4th of July the corner-stone of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad was laid at Baltimore with imposing ceremonies. 
This road, as well as all other of the early roads constructed in 
this country, was built of longitudinal wooden rails pinned 
down to cross-ties of stone or wood imbedded in the ground, 
with flat bars of iron fastened with spikes placed on top of the 
wooden rails. This method of construction was soon found to 
involve great danger, and consequent expense ; the ends of the 
iron bars becoming loose and starting up, were occasionally 
caught by the wheels and thrust up through the bottom of the 
car. 

A boat passed in October for the first time through the entire 
length of the Blackstone Canal, connecting Worcester with Prov- 
idence. The canal was commenced in 1826, and is forty five 
miles in length. 

One ton of coal was brought to Lowell from Boston in a 
wagon. It was the first anthracite coal seen in the place, and 
was considered a sufficient supply for the Lowell market for a 
whole year. 
1829 Andrew Jackson as President, and John C. Calhoun as Vice- 
President, commenced their terms of oifice on the 4th of March. 

After the adjournment of the Senate, the President made one 
hundred and seventy-six appointments for oifice among his po- 
litical adherents, principally in consequence of a general re- 
moval of his political opponents. Never before had so total a 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 93 

change been made in the public offices, and the conduct of the 
executive was subjected to severe animadversions. During 
General Washington's administration of eight years there were 
but nine removals ; in John Adams' of four years, only ten ; in 
Jefferson's of eight years, but thirty-nine ; in Madison's of eight 
years, but five ; in Monroe's of eight years, but nine ; and in 
John Quincy Adams' of four years, only two. 

A conflagration at Augusta, Georgia, on the 3d of April, de- 
stroyed upwards of three hundred buildings. On the lOtli of 
the same month, one hundred buildings, with a large amount of 
rice and other products, were consumed by lire at Savannah ; 
and on the same day the Lafayette Theatre in New York, to- 
gether with a large number of other buildings, were burned. 
The boiler of the steam-frigate Fulton, a receiving-ship sta- 
tioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, blew up on the 4th of 
June, killing upwards of thirty persons and dangerously wound- 
ing twenty -three others. 

The first asylum for the blind in the United States was 
founded in Boston, and incorporated under the name of the 
New England Asylum for the Blind. 

" Sam Patch," famous for his jumps at the falls of the 
Passaic at Paterson, and later at Niagara, was killed on the 
13th of November, in jumping from the Genesee Falls at 
Rochester. Many thousand persons were collected to witness 
his feats. 

The first public school in Baltimore was opened on the 31st 
of September. The first one in Louis\i]le, Ky., was also estab- 
lished this year. 

The first daily newspaper published in Portland, Me., was 
issued on the 13th of October, under the title of the Daily 
Courier. 

The following-named canals were completed this year: The 
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, connecting the Delaware 
River with Chesapeake Bay; the Cumberland and Oxford, in 
Maine; the Farmington, in Connecticut; the Oswego, con- 
necting Lake Ontario with the Erie Canal at Salina; and the 
Delaware and Hudson Canal, one hundred and eight miles in 
length, extending from Honesdale, Pa., to the Hudson River. 

The United States Mint at Philadelphia was completer!. 

The first figured muslin woven on a power-loom in this and, 
probably, in any other country, was made, in the summer of 
this year, at Central Falls, R. I. 

The use of Turke^'-red in calico-printing, which had for a 
long time given the French an advantage over English and 
American prints, was this year successfully introduced hj 
manufacturers at Lowell. 

The manufacture of penknives and pocket-knives, articles 
hitherto exclusively imported, was commenced at Worcester, 
Mass. 

The first manufacture of sewing-silk by machinery was 
commenced at Mansfield, Conn. 



94 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The first manufacture of bricks by machinery was com- 
menced at the city of New York. 

Large establishments for the manufacture of fire-bricks were 
erected about this time, and soon afterwards the importation 
of those articles was wholly stopped. 

Galvanizetl iron was invented, at this time, by John W. 
Revere, M.D., of New York, and on the 27th of Maich (Le 
result of his experiments was laid before the Lyceum of Natural 
History, in that city. 
1830 Mormouism was founded this year, and Joseph Smith, tlic 
originator of that sect, published his book entitled " The Book 
of Mormon, an Account written by the Hand of Mormon, upon 
Plates taken from the Plates of Nephi." Smith professed to 
have translated this English version from the original plates, 
discovered to him by angels. This " divine revelation " was 
found to be a corrupt version of a religious romance, called 
" The Manuscript Found," written, in the year 1809, by 
Solomon Spaulding. A Mormon church was' organized by 
Smith at Manchester, in Western New York, on the 6th o'f 
April; and at the first conference held in June about thirty 
converts attended. In the following year the Mormons re- 
moved to Kirtland, Ohio. 

A severe storm was experienced in some parts of Tennessee, 
on the 31st of May. The town of Carthage was a heap of 
i-uins; almost every house in the place was destroyed or greatly 
damaged. At another town fifty -three buildings were blown 
down, killing five persons and in.iuring many others. In July, 
a heavy storm swept both sides of Lake Champlain. continuing 
for three days. The streams emptying inlo the lake were so 
swollen that mill-dams and mills, iron-works and other factories, 
bridges and crops, were almost universally destroyed. 

Chicago was surveyed and laid out as a town, and the map 
recorded on the 4th of August. The first sale of lots took 
place in the autumn. 

It was estimated there were at this period thirteen hundred 
and forty-three miles of cana! in the United States completed, 
eighteen hundred miles more in progress, and four hundred 
and eight miles projected. 

The first anival at Oswego of a vessel from Lake Erie 
occurred on the 3d of August, by the Weltend Canal, now just 
completed. 

The first steam-railroad that went into operation in America, 
designed for the transportation of both passengers and merchan- 
dise, was the South Carolina road, laid out to connect Charles- 
ton with Hamburg, on tbc Savannah River, opposite the city 
of Savannah. Six miles of the road were completed in the 
summer of this year, and a locomotive was run on it. This 
locomotive was constructed in New York, and was the first one 
built in this country. It was a small four-wheeled engine, with 
upright boiler ancl the flues close to the bottom, the flames 
circulating around them. It is a noteworthy fact that this road 
was designed and wholly constructed, for the use (jf locomo- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 95 

tives, upon the Jidvice of Mr. Horatio Allen, before they ^^■ere 
known in this country, or established in Great Britain. The 
road was built upon piles, and some of the swamps and rivers 
were crossed at an elevation of fifty feet. 

The Hudson and Mohawk Railroad, connecting Albany with 
Schenectady, was commenced. 

On the 24th of May, fourteen miles of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad were completed and opened for use. 

The first telescope used in this country for astronomical 
purposes was set up at Yale College. 

Charles Kean, the celebrated actor, arrived in this country, 
and commenced his first engagement at the Park Theatre, in 
New York, on the 1st of September. 

The first penny paper published in Philadelphia was issued 
under the title of T!ie Cent. It had but a brief existence. 

The Christian Intelligencer, an organ of the Dutch Reformed 
Church, made its first appearance at New York. The Bcxton 
Transcript appeared at Boston, in July, and the Globe at 
Washington, in December. The Albany Exening Journal was 
also established this year. 

The first omnibus in New York commenced running this 
year. It had the word "Omnibus" painted in large letters on 
both sides, and was a puzzle to most pedestrians, who pro- 
nounced it variously. The name was generallj'' supposed to be 
that of the owner. 

The first Fourdrinier machine, used in the manufacture of 
paper, made in this country was built at Windham, Conn. 
Very few were afterwards imported. 
1831 a' negro insurrection broke out in Yirgmia, near the North 
Carolina border. It started with a party of thiec white men 
and four slaves, who commenced killing several families, and 
impressing into their service all slaves on their route, until 
a force of nearly two hundred accumulated, spreading desola- 
tion everywhere in their path. Fifty-five white persons were 
murdered before the insurrection was quelled. Troops were 
called out by the authorities of Virginia and North Carolina, 
who succeeded in killing or capturing all the insurgents. Fear- 
ing that this outbreak was but a part of a irrand conspiracj- of 
the negroes generally, martial law -was proclaimed in many 
places, and every negro who could not give a satisfactory ac- 
count of himself was arrested. In South Carolina the " Vigi- 
lance Association of Columbia" offered a reward of one thou- 
.sand dollars for the apprehension and conviction of any person 
who should be detected in distributing or circulating in that 
State the abolition paper called the Liberator, published in Bos- 
ton, or the pamphlet called " Walker's Pamphlet," or any other 
publication of a seditious tendenc.y. 

Chloroform was discovered this year by Dr. Samuel Guthrie 
of Sacketl's Harbor, N. Y. It was at first used only as a medi- 
cine, and its valuable qualities were not perceived until some 
time later. 

A conflagration destroyed the town of Fayetteville, N. C, 



96 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

on the 29th of May; only a few buildings on the outskirts es- 
caped. All the public buildings, and about six hundred pri- 
vate houses, were consumed, with their contents. 

Groton monument, on Groton Heights, opposite New Lon- 
don, was completed. 

A three-story house and lot, on the corner of Pine and Wil- 
liam streets, in New York, was sold for twenty-two thousand 
dollars, in October. The lot was twenty-eight feet on Pine 
and sixty-eight on William Street. 

The first sporting paper published in the United States was 
issued at New York, and called The Spirit of the Times. 

The Louisville Journal appeared in Louisville, Ky. ; and on 
the 9th of November the TJaily Morning Post, at Boston. 

The first passage of boats on the Morris Canal, between New- 
ark, N. J., and the Delaware River, was made in November. 

The great Pennsylvania line of improvements, connecting 
Philadelphia with Pittsburg, commenced in 1826, was com- 
pleted in March. This line comprised eighty-two miles of rail- 
road from Philadelphia to Columbia; one hundred and seventy- 
two miles of canal from Columbia to Hollidaysburg; thirty-six 
miles of railroad over the Alleghany Mountains to Johnstown; 
and one hundred and five miles of canal thence to Pittsburg. 
The line of railroad over the mountains consisted of a series of 
inclined planes, and was worked by stationary engines. These 
improvements were built by the State, and cost upwards of 
twelve millions of dollars. 

The Hudson and Mohawk Railroad, between Albany and 
Schenectady, was opened for travel on the 1st of September. 
This road was first designed to be worked bj^ horse-power, with 
the exception of two inclined planes, where stationary engines 
were to be employed. Before its completion it was decided to 
substitute steam-power, and a locomotive was ordered to be 
built for it at New^ York, which was used on the first trip at 
the opening of the road, and ran the distance of sixteen miles 
in forty-six minutes. Pine wood was iised for fuel. 

The first railroad built in Virginia was opened. It was con- 
structed for the transportation of coal from the mines near 
James River to Manchester, opposite Richmond, a distance of 
thirteen miles. The first railroad in Louisiana was opened on 
the 23d of April, and connected New Orleans with Lake Pon- 
chartraiu, a distance of four and a halflniles. Its construction 
across the swamp was considered a great feat of engineering. 

Six miles of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad were 
completed and opened on the 4th of July. The cars were 
drawn by horses. In the next year sixteen miles were opened, 
at whicli time steam-power was adopted. 

The construction of the Harlem and the Ithaca and Owego 
railroads in the State of New York, and of the Lexington and 
Ohio in Kentucky, was commenced. 

The important arrangement of fom*- wheeled trucks for cars 
was introduced on the South Carolina Railroad, and were the 
first car-trucks used in this or any other country. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 97 

1832 Upon the passage of a tariff bill by Congress in July, the 
representatives of South Carolina issued an atldress to the peo- 
ple of that State, asserting that, bj' the act passed, the burden 
of government was thrown exclusively on the Southern States, 
and meetings were held in South Carolina, denouncing the 
tariff, and pledging the persons attentling to support the State 
government in any measures it might adopt to resist it. In De- 
cember the Legislature of South Carolina passed acts prohibit- 
ing the enforcement of the United States revenue laws within 
the State, and authorizing the governor to call the militia into 
service to resist any attempt of the national government to en- 
force them. Ten thousand stand of arms, and the requisite 
quantity of military munitions, were ordered to be purchased. 
At this crisis the President determined to enforce the revenue 
acts, with an entire disregard to the pretended rights of sover- 
eignty which were assumed by the State of South Carolina, 
and he, accordingly, ordered all the disposable military force 
to assemble at Charleston, and a sloop of war to be sent to that 
port to protect the levenue officers, in case of necessity, in the 
execution of their duty. On the 10th of December, the Presi- 
dent issued a proclamation, in which he plainly and forcibly 
stated the nature of the American government, and the supre- 
macy of the Federal authorities in all matters intrusted to tlieir 
care, and exhorted the citizens of South Carolina not to persist 
in a course which must bring upon their State the force of the 
confederacy, and ex])ose the Union to the hazard of dissolu- 
tion. The revenue laws imder the protection of the United 
States forces were carried into effect without any opposition by 
violence, and, at a meeting of the leading nulliflers at Charles- 
ton, it was resolved that all collision between the State and 
Federal authorities should be avoided, in the hope that the con- 
troversy might Ije satisfactorily adjusted in Congress by the 
passage of bills modifying the tariff. That hope was realized, 
and the tariff' controversy in South Carolina ended. 

At the presidential election of this year the Democratic party 
voted for General Andrew Jackson for re-election as President, 
and Martin Van Buren for Vice-President, and those candidates 
were successful; General Jackson receiving two hundred and 
nineteen electoral votes, and Mr. Van Buren one hundred and 
eighty nine. At this time an Anti-jNIasonic jxirty had been in- 
stituted, which nominated William Wirt for President and 
Amos EUmaker for Vice-President, and they received seven 
electoral votes. The old Federal i"»arty had gone out of exist- 
ence, and the opponents of the administration were now de- 
nominated National Republicans. That party nominated Henry 
Clay for President, and John Sergeant for Vice-President, and 
they each received forty-nine votes. The State of South Caro- 
lina gav^e its eleven electoral votes to John Floyd for President 
and Henry Lee for Vice-President. 

A war broke out in Illinois between the Indians and the 
whites. In the year 1830, some Indians of the tribe of the Sacs 
and Foxes — two tribes imited in one — made some depredations 



98 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

on the white settlers near the mouth of Rock River. In conse- 
quence the United States Government made a treaty with Keo- 
kuk, the chief of that tribe, by which he agreed to remove with 
hU Indians across the Mississippi. Black Hawk, a noted war- 
rior, however, refused to recognize the authority of Keokuk to 
make that treaty, and, with many of the Indians, declined to re- 
move from Illinois. He gathered about him all the restless 
spirits of the tribe, ^et himself up as their chief, and commenced 
depredations on the Avhite settlements. Troops were called out 
by the governor, and the United States Government sent de- 
tachments of the army to assist in breaking up the war. Suc- 
cessive engagements were fought, with various success, antl 
many atrocities committed by the savages. On the 2d of Au- 
gust, a battle took place with the main body of the Indians, 
which closed hostilities. The Indians were defeated with 
great loss, and Black Hawk, with his two sons and seven other 
warriors, were captured, and sent prisoners to Fortress Mon- 
roe, Va. 

The source of the Mississippi was discovered on the 13lh of 
July by an exploring expedition under the command of Henry 
R. Schoolcraft. 

The Asiatic cholera, which had been devastating Montreal 
and Quebec for some time, made its tirst appearance in the 
United States at the city of New York on the 21st of Jane. 
The disease spread in various directions, reaching Philadelphia, 
Albany, and Rochester in July, and Boston, Baltimore, and 
Washington in August. In October it reached New Orleans, 
having previously appeared at Cincinnati and the intermediate 
cities. In Quebec, Montreal, New York, and Philadelphia, alone, 
there were eighteen thousand cases and eight thousand deaths. 

A disastrous flood swept the valley of the Ohio in February. 
The water continued to rise from the 7th to the 19th, when it 
attained the height of sixty -three feet above low-water mark at 
Cincinnati. The towns and villages along the banks of the 
river were submerged in some instances so deeply as to force 
the inhabitants to take refuge on the neighboring hills. It was 
impossible to make any accurate estimate of the value of the 
property destroyed. 

The steamboat Brandywine took fire on the evening of 
the 9th of April, on the Mississippi Riyer, near Memphis, 
and of about two hundi'cd persons on board all but seventy- 
five perished in the flames or by drowning. 

The first instance of chloroform being used by inhalation 
was at New Haven in January. 

The renowned gymnasvs and pantomimists, the Ravel family, 
made their first appearance in America, at the Park Theatre in 
New York, on the 16th of July. The popularity of this troupe 
continued undiminished for more than thii-ty j'ears. 

Charles Kemble, the celebrated comedian, and Fanny Kem- 
blc, equally celebrated as an actress, made their first appear 
ance in America, at the Park Theatre in New York, on the 17th 
of September. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 99 

The manufacture of hosiery by steam or water power was 
first commenced in this country in October, at Cohoes, N. Y. 

The tirst steamboat seen at Chicago arrived there on the lOtli 
of July, liaving on board General Winlield Scott and United 
States troops destined for the scene of the Blacli Hawk war. 

Tiie tirst liouse built in Iowa was erected this year near the 
site of the citj^ of Davenport. 

The Paterson and Jersey City Railroad, the Schenectady and 
Saratoga, the West Chester in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia, 
Germantown and Norristown, and the Louisville and Bards- 
town railroads were all completed this year. On the 15th of 
November, Philadelphia and Harrisburg were connected by a 
continuous line of railroad. Operations were commenced on 
the Boston and Worcester Railroad in August. 

The tirst street railroad in America was completetl between 
the City Hall and Fourteenth Street in New York, and opened 
for travel in November. The road was built by (he Harlem 
Railroad Company, and some time afterwards was extended up 
Fourth Avenue. 
1833 Andrew Jackson, as President, and Martin Van Buren, Vice- 
President, commenced their terms of office on the 4th of March. 

There ensued great commercial distress throughout the 
country this year, caused by a general system of retrenchment 
that the directors of the United States'Bank were obliged to 
institute, with a view to safety on account of an evident existing 
hostility to that corporation. The President of the United 
States was particularly opposed to the bank, and he caused all 
the public deposits, amounting to nearly ten millions of dollars, 
to be withdrawn from it, the greater part of which within a 
period of four months. Almost simultaneously with this step 
an attempt was made to destroy the credit of the bank, by sud- 
denly presenting for payment at one of the distant branches a 
large amount of circulating notes whi(,-h had been secretly 
accumulated. 

Emigrations were made to Iowa this year. From this time 
the progress and extension of settlements in that district were 
rajiid, and the population increased with far greater rapidity 
than in any new Territory heretofore. 

The town of Chicago was incorporated on the 10th of Au- 
gust. At that time there were one hundred and seventy-live 
houses and iive hundred and tifty inhabitants. The first news- 
paper published in the place was' issued on the 36th of Novem- 
bei', under the name of The Democrat. The tirst church organ- 
ized was formed on the 26th of June, by the Presbvtenans 
belonging to the garrison of Fort Dearborn. On the 'l9th of 
October, a Baptist society was formed. 

Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania passed laws for 
the supi^ression of lotteries. 

The United States Treasury building at Washington was 
consumed by fire on the 31st of March! Nearly all the valu- 
able papers contained in it were saved. 

On the 30th of April, a tire broke out in the extensive stables 



100 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

of Kipp & Brown ou Hudson and Bank streets, in Now York, 
•and spread until over one hundred and thirty buildings were 
consumed. It was estimated that three hundred families were 
thereby rendered homeless. 

The city of Boston contracted for sperm-oil for street-lamps, 
— ninety cents per gallon for summer oil and one dollar for 
winter. 

Nashville, Tenn., was supplied with water conveyed in pipes 
through the streets. 

The tirst theatre erected in the United States expressly for 
operatic performances was opened on the 18th of November. 
It was built on the corner of Church and Leonard streets, in 
New York; but the enterprise proved a failure, and the lAiilding 
was used for theatrical purposes until it was destroyed by fire 
in the year 1841. 

Millerism, as it w^as called, commenced making converts at 
this time. William Miller began to lecture upon the subjects 
of the millenDium and the early destruction of the world, which 
he at first stated would take place in 1843. He secured disci- 
ples, who were called Millcrites, to the number, as estimated, of 
nearly fifty thousand. After the failure of his predictions, 
several yeai's and days were successively designated for the 
destruction of the world, and the sect existed for many years. 

The first exportation of American ice to the East Indies was 
made by Mr. Frederick Tudor, of Boston. It was sent in 
May, and delivered at Calcutta in the autumn. In the follow- 
ing year he sent the first cargo to Brazil. 

At this time there were seventy-six omnibuses running in the 
streets of New York, one hundred and ninety-four licensed 
hackney-coaches, twenty-four hundred and fifty-nine carts, and 
one hundred and fifty-seven porters with either barrows or 
hand-carts. 

On the r)th of October, one hundred and fifty one lots, each 
twenty-five feet front and one hundred in depth, on Prospect 
Hill in Brooklyn, L. I., three miles from Fulton Ferry, were 
sold at an average price of one hundred and twenty-five dollars 
apiece. ' 

The first public trial of reaping-machines took place on the 
2d of July, before the Hamillon County Agricultural Society 
in Ohio. The exhibition was of the machine patented by Mr. 
Obed Hussey. 

The first newspaper issued in Wisconsin was published at 
Navarino on the 11th of December, and called The Oreen Bay 
Intelligencer. The Boston Daily Journal made its first apjiear- 
ance this year. The first successful penny paper established in 
the United States issued its first number on the 8th of Septem- 
ber at New York, and was called The JS'ew Yoi'k Sun. 

The progress of enterprise in American journalism took a step 
forward this year. I'he Neic York Journal of Commerce estab- 
lished a horse express from Philadelphia to New York, with 
relays of horses, by which the paper was enabled to publish 
Congressional news one day in advance of its contemporaries in 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 101 

New York. This example was soon followed by other papers, 
until the government itself established an express between those 
cities, whereupon the Journal of Commerce extended its relays 
to Washington. 

The constitution of Massachusetts w^as amended, making the 
individual contributions for the support of the ministry volun- 
tary, instead of obligatory as they had always been for about 
two hundred years. 

The Ohio Canal, connecting the Ohio River at Portsmoutli 
with Lake Erie at Cleveland, a distance of three hundred and 
seven miles, was completed and opened for navigation. 

The South Carolina Railroad l)etween Charleston and the 
Savannah River, oue hundred and thirty- six miles in length, 
was entirely completed. This was the first railroad upon which 
the United States mails were carried, and the longest continuous 
line yet completed in this or any other country. The Camden 
and Amboy Railroad, between Amboy andBordentown, X. J., 
was opened for travel in September. The Petersburg and Ro- 
anoke Railroad in Virginia, about sixty miles in length, was 
also completed. The ceremony of breaking ground for the 
commencement of the Providence and Stonington Railroad took 
place at Stonington on the 14th of August. 
1834 An unusual excitement and tumult took place in New York, 
ending in a riot, at the city election held on the 8th, 9th, and 
10th days of April, caused by a bitter feeling existing between 
the Jackson men and their political opponents, who at this time 
were called by the new party name of ' ' whigs. " Great conf usioii 
and violence ensued; political meetings were disturbed and brok- 
en up, and in the Sixth and Eleventh wards proceedings were so 
riotous that the military were called out to quell the disturbances. 
Many of the citizens were dangerously injured, and several of the 
rioters were arrested and imprisoned. Citizens remained under 
arms all night, fearing that the banks would be sacked, as an at- 
tack on them was loudly threatened. Business was almost entire- 
ly suspended in Wall and other down-town streets. The election 
resulted in favor of the " whigs," and the victory was celebrat- 
ed by that party in many sections of the country. Salutes were 
fired, and other demonstrations of rejoicing were manifested. 
In Philadelphia, a grand barbecue was instituted, and fifty 
thousand people attended, as estimated. 

A meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society held in New 
York on the 4th of July was broken up by a mob. A few 
days afterwards another mob sacked the house of Lewis Tap- 
pan, a noted abolitionist, and then assaulted and damaged 
several churches, school-houses, and homes of colored families. 
The anti-abolition excitement spread to other places. At New- 
ark, N. J., on the evening of the 11th of July, a minister 
introduced a colored man into his pulpit, against the previously 
ascertained will of his people. When the populace found it 
out, they assembled in great numbers, took the colored man 
forcibly from the pulpit, conveyed him to jail, and threatened to 
tear it down unless the jailer received him. They then re- 



102 IIISTOKY or THE UNITED STATES. 

turuetl to tho eliurch, broke the windows, tore down tlie pulpit, 
and reduced the edifice to a shell. In Noi"wich, Conn., a mob, 
lieaded by a baud of music, entered a church where a lecture 
was being delivered by an abolitionist, forcibly took the lecturer 
from the pulpit, and forced him to march before them, at the 
same time playing the Rogue's March, till they drummed him out 
of the town. In Philadelphia, a riot commenced on the even- 
ing of the 13th of August, and continued for three nights. 
Forty -four houses inhabited liy blacks were assaulted, damaged, 
and many of them destroyed. Other similar demonstrations 
occurred in several places in different sections of the coimtry. 

A report having been circulated in Boston that a girl was 
confined against her will in a convent of Ursuline nuns at 
( harlestown, great excitement was manifested in the cit}^ and 
soon prevailed in the neighboring towns. On the night of the 
11th of August, a large number of persons, disguised in fantas- 
tic costumes, assembled before the convent, and after waking 
and warning the inmates to make their escape, made an assault 
on the liouse. The doors and windows were forced open, the 
furniture broken, and the building set on fire and destroyed ; 
other buildings belonging to tbe convent were also burned. 
The cemetery was then visited and the graves were desecrated. 
The next day a large meeting of the citizens of Boston was held 
in Faneuil Hall to express their indignation at the outrage, and 
prompt measures were instituted to discover the perpetrators. 
Several persons were arrested, but were released for w'ant of 
proof, and onl}' one suffered conviction. 

Congress passed an act to establish branch mints at New Or- 
leans, Dahlonega, Ga., and at Charlotte, N. C. 

The earliest emigrations of settlers to Oregon commenced at 
this period. 

The streets of New Orleans were lighted with gas for the first 
time. 

At this period but one mail a week arrived at Chicago from 
the East, and that was brought from Niles, Mich., on horse- 
back. 

Brooklyn, L. I., was incorporated as a city, and thefirst mayor 
and other city officers elected. Rochester was also incoi-porated, 
and Burlington in Iowa laid out as a town. 

The wholesale clothing business in the United States was 
first coTumenced in the city of New YorTTfit this time. 

The first steam-]iower printing-press set up at the West was 
established at Cincinnati, for the publication of the Gazette. 

The first gun rifled in the United States was accomplished at 
South Boston, Mass. 

Hammered-brass kettJes began at this time to be manufactured 
in this country at Wolcottville, Conn. 

Wood-screws, for the first time manufactured bj- machinery, 
were made at Providence. 

The first table cutlery of American manufacture was made 
in January, at Greenfield, Mass. 

The New Jersey Railroad, from Jersey City to New Bruns- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 103 

wick, was completed. Tlie Philadelphia aud Treutou Railroad 
was opened for travel ou the 1st of November. 
1835 Riotous demonstrations continued to be exhibited in various 
sections of the Northern States against the blacks and the abo- 
litionists; churches and public halls were assaulted, and anti 
slavery speakers rudel}' handled. Great excitement prexailed 
at the South, in consequence of the circulation there of papers 
and pamphlets sent by the different autislaver}- societies at the 
North. On the 29th of July, the post-office at Charleston was 
forced by a mob, the mails rifled, and all antislavery publi- 
c-itious destroyed. 

Great attention was excited throughout the country by publi 
cations in the newspapers of interesting discoveries concerning 
the moon, made bj" means of a newly invx'nted telescope, 
which, when the facts became known, were designated as the 
"Moon Hoax." Richard Adams Locke, the editor of the 
JVeic York i^u/i, wrote an article in that paper which purportetl 
to be an account of discoveries made by Sir John F. W. Her- 
schel at the Cape of Good Hope, and pi-etended to be taken 
from a late number of an Edinburgh journal, in which the 
author proceeded to delineate the geographical features aud the 
inhabitants of the moon with graphic power and such show of 
probability, that the gravest journals accepted tlie account as 
actual fact. The papers throughout the countrj^ copied the ar- 
ticle, and commented upon the wonderful discoveries, which, 
for the time, created much speculation and wonder. The dis- 
covery of the hoax excited general merriment, aud more so 
against those journals which, hoping to gain credit for enter- 
prise, had pretended to have copied tlie article themselves from 
the Edinburgh journal. 

The President, in his Message, announced the extinguishment 
of the national debt. The duties on imports and the sale of 
the public lands had produced the money for that purpose. 

The resources of the State of Ohio had been greatly devel- 
oped within the preceding five years. The State, at this lime, 
contained a population of about one million. One hundred 
and twenty-five newspapers were established in sixtj-tive 
towns. Cincinnati was seven days distant from Pittsburg, 
fourteen from New York, and twenty-one from New O^-- 
leans. 

Miss Charlotte Cushman made her first appearance on the 
stage at the Tremont Theatre in Boston, on the 8th of April, 
in the character of the " Countess" in the marriage of Figaro. 
She made a great success, and her popularitj^ as an actress'con- 
tinued more than forty years. 

The first house at Ye'rba Buena, the germ of San Francisco, 
was built. 

At this period the residents of Harlem and Yorkville, at the 
upper portion of New York Island, could reach the city by 
public conveyance only, unfrequently, by using a stage-coach 
plying between New York and Daiibury, Conn. An hourly 
stage between the city and Harlem was established this year, at 



104 UISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

a charge to Yoikville of eigbteen and three quarter cents, and 
to Harlem of twenty -five. 

The ]Ve-w York Herald issued its tirst number on the 6th of 
May, from its office of publication in the cellar of No. 30 Wall 
street. The editor, Mr. Bennett, was his own reporter of the 
police news, of the city items, and of the money market. 
This latter department was the first of the kind published in 
America. 

The manufacture of mineral teeth for the market was first 
established in the United States about this time, bj' D. "W. 
Stockton of Philadelphia. 

The manufacture of horse-shoes by machinery was estab- 
lished at Troy. Up to this date they were made only by hand. 

At this period there were but two manufactories of hair-cloth 
in the country. One of these, the first iu New England, was 
but recently started at Deerfield, Mass. 

The first manufacture of pins by machinery was commenced 
at New York in December, by a company called the Howe 
Manufacturing Company, from the name of the inventor of 
the machines. 

About this period an improvement was made in the manu- 
facture of hosiery, which, Avith the introduction of the 
power-loom, in 1832, gave rise to the establishment of that 
business on an extensive scale in this country. This new in- 
vention consisted in knitting the goods in one continuous circu- 
lar web. Heretofore they were knit in strips, cut up into 
proper lengths, and the circle formed bj^ sewing the web * 
lengthwise. 

The first tiles for draining purposes are said to have been 
made this year, near Geneva, N. Y. 

Samuel Colt secured a patent for the famous revolving pis- 
tol bearing his name. 

A fire-department was organized at Chicago on the 19th of 
September, and two fire-engines and one thousand feet of hose 
ordered. In December, the first bank in the place went into 
operation. The first fire-engine in Indianapolis arrived there 
in September from Philadelphia. 

A conflagration occurred on the night of the 16th of December 
at New York, in the business part of "the city devoted principally 
to the wholesale dry -goods trade, destroying about seven hundred 
buildings, and involving a loss of, as 'estrmated, seventeen mil- 
lions of dollars. All insurance companies failed, excepting 
two, that insured in that district, the loss absorbing theij" entire 
assets, inflicting distress upon a class of people owning the 
slocks who relied upon the dividends for support, — such ;is 
widows and orphans, — which increased the extent of the catas- 
trophe. The burned district covered an area of about thirteen 
acres, in which only one store escaped entire. It embraced the 
blocks from Coffee House Slip along South Street to Coenties' 
Slip, thence to near Broad Street, along William to Wall, and 
down the south side of that street to the East River. 
A rage on the subject of silk-cidture was developed in many 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 105 

sections of tlic country at this time, particularly in New Eng- 
land. Congress and several of the State legislatures, within 
the past few years, had promoted the growing interest n that 
business by means of publications, bounties, and other meas- 
ures. Large profits were realized by some in the sale of ,young 
mulberry trees, and large numbers of persons were induced to 
go into the business of raising silk. The speculative fever 
lasted several years, and many fortunes were made and lost in 
the business. 

The Boston and Providence Railroad was opened for travel, 
on the 2d of June ; the Boston and Lowell, on the 27th of 
June ; the Boston and Worcester, on the 6th of July ; and the 
Baltimore and Washington, on the 25th of Aug-ust. The Xew 
York and Erie was commenced on the 7th of November. 
1836 The presidential election, this year, was warmly contested. 
The Democratic party nominated Martin Van Buren for Presi- 
dent, and Richard M. Johnson for Vice-President. The oppo- 
sition party now took the name of Whig. There were different 
sections of this combination, and although they were unable to 
unite upon a single candidate, they were in hopes of defeating 
the election of Mr. Van Buren by throwing the final choice in- 
to the House of Representatives. The result of the election 
was as follows : For President, Martin Van Buren, who re- 
ceived one hundred and seventy electoi'al votes ; William H. 
Harrison, seventy-three ; Hugh L. White, twenty-six ; Daniel 
Webster, fourteen; and W. P. Mangum, eleven. For Vice- 
President, Richard M. Johnson received one hundred and forty- 
seven votes ; Francis Granger, seventy-seven ; John Tyler, 
forty-seven ; and William Smith, twenty-three. Martin Van 
Buren received a sufficient number of electoral votes for elec- 
tion ; but by the terms of the Constitution, there was no choice 
of Vice President, in which case the Senate of the United States 
was designated to make it. By the vote in that body Richard 
M. Johnson was elected, he receiving thirty-three votes against 
sixteen given Mr. Granger. 

Arkansas was admitted into the Union on the 15th of June, 
with a constitution permitting slavery within the State. 

Texas rebelled against the Mexican authorities, and, on the 
2d of March, proclaimed her independence and adopted a re- 
publican form of government. 

Wisconsin was organized under a territorial government, 
with jurisdiction over the " District of Iowa." The latter Ter- 
ritory, at this time, had a population of ten thousand five hun- 
dred. Madison was made the capital of Wisconsin, and was 
situated in the midst of a wilderness. The seftlement of Janes- 
ville in Wisconsin, and of Davenport in Iowa, was com- 
menced. 

The office of The PMlanthropisi, an abalition paper published 
in Cincinnati, was attacked by a mob, on the 29th of July, en- 
tered and pillaged, the types" scattered, and the press broken 
and thrown into the river. 

On tbc 9th of June, the Seminole Indians, under Osceola, 



106 lIIsrORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

were repulsed in an attack on the United States fortified post at 
Micanopy, F)a. On the 12tli of August they were victorious 
at Fort Doane. 

On the 15th of December, the United States Patent Office, 
with all its contents, occupying a portion of the General Post- 
office Building, in Washington, was destroyed by fire. 

The first astronomical observatory built in the United States 
was erected at Williamstowu, Mass. 

New Orleans was supplied with water pumped from the Mis- 
sissipi into a reservoir, and thence conveyed to the houses by 
means of pipes. 

The city of Philadelphia was lighted with gas, for the first 
time, on the 10th of February. 

]Miss Ellen Tree made her first appearance in America on the 
12th of December, at the Park Theatre, in New York, and 
proved to be the most popular actress, excepting Fanny Kem- 
ble, known to the New York stage. 

The first penny newspaper in Baltimore issued its first num- 
l)er on the 10th of March, under the title of The Baltimore 
Transcript. The New York Express commenced publication 
on the 20th of June, and the Public Ledger, at Philadelphia, on 
25th of March. 

The first manufacture in this country of wrought-iron tubing 
and fittings for gas, water, and steam pipes was commenced at 
Philadelphia. 

The manufacture of fine-cut chewing tobacco was com- 
menced at Centreville, Mich., and, until the year 1847, was 
made at no other place west of Detroit. 

Felt cloth was first successfully manufactured at Norwalk, 
Conn. 

The first exportation of varnishes was made this year. The 
manufacturers of New York shipped a considerable quantitj' 
to South America and Mexico. 

Heretofore, railroad cars were pulled up heavy grades by 
means of stationary engines. On tlie 10th of July, on the Phil- 
adelphia and Columbia Railroad, it was for the first time dem- 
onstrated that ascents could be made bj' locomotives, without 
the aid of stationary engines and ropes, which fact resulted in 
the adoption of a new principle in the construction of railroads, 
and tlie saving of great expense. It wasjdso demonstrated, by 
an experiment on the Beaver Meadow Railroad in Pennsylva- 
nia, tliat anthracite coal was a better fuel than wood for loco- 
motives. 

The Utica and Schenectady Railroad, seventy eight miles in 
length, was opened for travel on the 1st of August. The 
Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad was completed on the 18th 
of April, and ground broken for its continuation throughout the 
whole length of Long Island. 
1837 Martin Van Bureu, as President, and Richard M. Johnson, 
as Vice-President, commenced their oflBcial terms on the 4th of, 
March. 

This year is marked hy a remarkable pressure in the money 

> 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 107 

market, and great commercial distress resultiug therefrom. 
Numerous banks had been chartered in the preceding year by 
the different State legislatures, to supply a supposed want of 
banking capital consequent upon the refusal of Congress to 
prolong the existence of the United States Bank, the charter of 
which was about to expii'c. These new banks being without 
any check to prevent excessive issues of paper circulation, the 
facilities of bank accommodations occasioned a scene of specu- 
lation which extended far and wide over the whole Union, and 
all classes of citizens Avere more or less entangled in the opera- 
tions which ensued. Extensive purchases of the jiublic lands, 
by individuals and companies, were among the schemes of the 
day, for the emploj'ment of the abundance of bank jjaper. At 
length, the government required all paj'uients for the public 
lauds to be made in specie, which sometimes produced large 
drafts on the banks for that commodity, and not only prevent- 
ed them from extending their lines of discount, but compelled 
them to commence calling in their circulating notes. An order 
had also been issued directing the surplus fuuds of the govern- 
ment to be distributed among the several States, and, from the 
mode in which that was managed, contributed to the derange- 
ment of the currency, Another cause of pecuniary embairass- 
meut and pressure was an excessive importation of merchan- 
dise from abroad, beyond the wants and abilities of the coun- 
try ; payments for which falling due, and American credit be- 
ing impaired in Louilon, occasioned a large exportation of spe- 
cie to Europe. On the 10th of May, all the banks in the city 
of New York, by common consent, suspended specie payments; 
the banks of Boston, Providence, Hartford, Albany, Philadel- 
phia, and Baltimore, and others in every (juarler, adopted the 
same coiu'se. During the preceding two months, unprecedent- 
ed embarrassments and difficulties were experienced among the 
mercantile classes, and were felt in all the commercial towns 
in the United States, especially in New York and New Orleans. 
The number of large failures which took place in New York in 
a short time was about three hundred, their liabilities amounting 
to many millions. In two days, houses in New Orleans stopped 
payment, owing an aggregate of twenty-seven millions of dol- 
lars. In Boston, one huntlred and sixty-eight failures took 
place in six months. 

Michigan was admitted into the Union on the 26th of Janu- 
ary. 

Osceola, the Seminole chief, was captured near St. Augus- 
tine. His capture ended the Seminole war. He had come un- 
der a flag of truce, to hold a conference with the American 
general, and by the general's orders was detained. He was sent 
as a prisoner to Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, where he 
was kept until the next year, when he died. 

A mob attacked and tired a building in Alton, 111., on the 
7th of November, in which was printed an abolition newspaper 
published by Rev. E. P. Lovejoy. The editor was murdered, 
and the press broken and thrown into the river. 



108 HISTORY OF THE UNFIXED STATES. 

Chicago was incorporated as a city on llie 4th of March. On 
the 1st of Julj'' its population was forty-one hundred and sev- 
enty, and the number of buildings in the place about five hun- 
dred. 

On the 8th of May, the large Louisville and New Orleans 
packet Ben Sherrod, while ascending the Mississippi and whcTi 
about fourteen miles above Fort Adams, caught fire about one 
o'clock at night, and the passengers, about three hundred in 
number, had no alternative but to jump into the river without 
having time to save even their clothes. More than two hun- 
dred lives were lost by this catastrophe. The boat was engaged 
in a race at the time, and the firemen, to raise more steam, used 
pine-knots for fuel and sprinkled resin on the coal. 

About fifty lives were lost on the night of the 27th of Decem- 
ber, on the Mississippi, by the explosion of the boiler belonging 
to the steamboat Black Hawk as it was near the Red River^ 

The Baltimore Sun appeared on the 17th of May, and the 
JVeiD Orleans Picayune on the 25th of January. 

The fii'st successful introduction of the screw in steam-navi- 
gation was made this year, on the steamer Thames, by Captains 
Ericsson and F. P. Smith. 

The dynamometer, an invention for ascertaining the power 
used in driving machinery, was first put to use this year. 

The invention of one-day clocks with brass movements was 
introduced at this time in Connecticut, and resulted in a com- 
plete revolution of the clock business. The manufacture of 
clocks with wooden movements was immediately stopped. 

The first establishment erected for the exclusive manufacture 
of machinists' tools was opened at Nashua, N. H. 

A man was publicly whipped on the court-house parade in 
Providence, on the 14th of July, for horse-stealing. This 
method of punishment had never been legally abolished, though 
it had been discontinued for a long time. The law v.as soon 
after repealed. 

The railroad between Richmond and Fredericksburg, in 
Virginia, was completed; the Michigan Central, from Detroit to 
Ypsilanti, a distance of thirty miles, was opened for travel ; the 
road from Baltimore to Wilmington, also, on the 19th of July; 
and the Providence and Slonington, on the 10th of November. 
On the 26th of October, the tunnel between Thirty-fourth and 
Forty second streets, in New York, was completed b}' the 
Harlem Railroad Company. 

The Chenango Canal, connecting the Su.squehanna at Bing- 
hamton with the Erie Canal at Utica, was completed. 
1838 The Mormons expelled from Missouri by persecution, whither 
they had emigrated from Ohio, established themselves in 
Hancock County, Illinois, and commenced building a town, 
which they called Nauvoo. They numbered at this time about 
twelve thousand. 

The Atlantic Ocean was crossed for the first time by vessels 
exclusively propelled by steam-power. There were two steamers, 
called the Slrius and the Great Western, which arrived at 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 109 

New York iu the summer, within a few hours of each other. 
TheSirius started from London, and was seventeen days on her 
passage; the Great Western, from Bristol, fifteen days. From 
this period regular passages across the Atlantic were established. 

A legacy amounting to over live hundred thousand dollars, 
left the United States by Mr. James Smithson of England, ar- 
rived in August from London. The money was bequeathed by 
Smithson for the advancement of knowledge, and was used foV 
the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington. 

The first manufacture of gold thimbles and spectacles was 
commenced at Long Meadow, Mass. 

The first solid-headed pins made in the United States were 
manufactured at Birmingham, Conn. , by the Howe Pin Company 
which had removed to that town from New York. This new 
style of manufacture soon superseded the spun-headed pins 
heretofore used. 

The first zinc manufactured in the United States was made 
at the arsenal at Washington, from the red oxide of New 
Jersey. It was used in the brass designed for the standard 
weights and measun^s ordered by Congress. The expense of 
its manufacture was so great, that for a long time any further 
attempts to use this ore were abandoned. 

The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad in Virginia, the 
Nashua and Lowell, and a portion of the Mad River Railroad 
in Ohio, were completed and opened for travel. 

On the 27th of April, a destructive conflagration occurred at 
Charleston, S. C. Eleven hundred and fifty-eight buildings 
were destroyed, and nearly one half the city was desolated. 
Property valued at three millions of dollars was lost. On the 
afternoon of the 25th of April, the steamboat Moselle, bound 
for St. Louis, left her landing at Cincinnati, with an unusually 
large number of passengers on board, supposed to be nearly 
three hundred. The boat proceeded about a mile up the river, 
to take on some Gennan emigrants, and just as it was moving 
from shore at that point her four boilers exploded simultaneously, 
blowing the upper part of the vessel to atoms. The remainder, 
after floating a short distance, sank in the river. About one 
hundred and thirty persons lost their lives, and several others 
were badly injured. 
1839 On the 10th of October, the United States Bank failed, 
and closed its doors, on account of ruinous speculations in 
cotton. During the preceding year it bought cotton for a rise, 
and for a time it advanced to sixteen cents a pound, but soon 
declined in price, causing great loss to the bank. It made great 
exertions to sustain itself by the sale of bonds in Europe, and 
by issuing post-notes, which were sold in Boston and New York 
at a discount of eighteen to twenty-four per cent. This failure 
and cotton speculations caused a large number of bank suspen- 
sions, principally at the South and West. Three hundred and 
forty- three banks closed business entirely, and sixty -two 
partially. The government lost two millions of dollars in 
deposits by these failures. 



110 HISTORY OK Tllli: UNITED STATES. 

The seat of Government for Illinois was removed from Yan- 
dalia to Springtield . 

Greenwood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, was incorporated on the 
11th of April, and in October lots were tirst offered for sale. 

The first printing-press established west of the Rocky Moun- 
tains was set up at Walla Walla, in Oregon, a place founded by 
some Presbyterian missionaries. 

The tirst' Normal School in America was opened on the 3d 
of July, at Lexington, Mass. 

The tirst successfully constructed screw-propeller was built 
this year by Captain Ericsson, in England, and navigated to 
this country. It demonstrated the value of screws over pad- 
dles for boats used for certain purposes. 

The first carpets woven by a power-loom, in this or any other 
country, were produced this year at Lowell. 

The tirst successful attempt to use anthi'acite coal in the 
manufacture of iron was made at a furnace in Pottsville, Pa. 
The proprietor was rewarded with a present of five thousand 
dollars, subscribed by citizens of the State. 

The first white settlement on the site of Sacramento was 
made by J. A. Sutter. 

The express business in this couutr}' originated on the 4th of 
March, Avhen Mr. W. F. Harndeu of Boston, according to 
previous advertisement, made a trip from that city to New York 
as a public messenger. He had in charge a few books and 
some Southern and Western bank notes for delivery. His route 
was by railroad from Boston to Stonington, thence by steam- 
boat to New Tork. He proposed also to take charge of freight 
and attend to its early delivery, he having made a contract with 
the railroad and steamboat line on that route for that purpose. 

Charles Goodj'ear obtained his first patent for vulcanized 
india-rubber in February. 

The Western Railroad, between Worcester and Springfield, 
Avas opened for travel on the 1st of October. The Syracuse and 
Utica, and the Syracuse and Auburn, railroads, were also com- 
pleted this year. 
1840 Congress established the Independent Treasury. The new 
system proposed to separate the government entirely from any 
ciependence upon the banks in its fiscal operations, the collec- 
tion, safe-keeping, transfer, and disbursements of the public 
mone}^ to be performed by agents of the government alone, 
and only specie to be used in all transactions of the govern 
ment. This act was repealed during the administration of Mr. 
Tyler. 

The result of the presidential election this year, after a cam- 
paign more than usually exciting, was successful for the candi- 
dates of the Whig party. These were William H. Han'ison 
for President, who received two hundred and thirty -four elec- 
toral votes, and John Tyler for Vice President, who received 
the same number. Martin Van Bureu was the nominee for 
President of the Democratic party, and he received sixty votes. 
For Vice-President, Richard ^if. Johnson received forty-eight 



HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES. Ill 

votes, L. W. Tazewell eleven, and James K. Polk ouf. A 
third party, in favor of the abolition of slavery, had been or- 
ganized for some time, and this year nominated James G. Bir- 
ney for President, who received some scattering votes in the 
Northern States, but not sufficient in any one to give him a 
single electoral vote. 

The census of Iowa showed a population of forty-three thous- 
and ; and of Wisconsin, of thirty-one thousand. 

The town of Scranton, Pa., was founded. 

Water was supplied to the city of Chicago by a private cor- 
poration. It was pumped from the lake into a reservoir about 
twenty-five feet square and eight feet deep, and thence con- 
veyed to the citizens by means of pipes made of logs. 

This year, Mr. P. B. Burke and Mr. Alvan Adams com- 
menced to take charge of freight, and packages of money and 
goods, and attend to their delivery, between Boston and New 
York, by the way of Springfield, in competition with ]Mr. 
Harnden, who had established the business in the preceding 
year by the Stonington route. This enterprise was the founda- 
tion of the Adams Ex]5ress Company. 

The first manufacture of gold pens in this country was com- 
menced at New York. 

The first iron-front building in America was erected on 
Washington Street, in Boston, this year, upon the guarantee of 
the builder that it should be taken down at his own expense if 
it proved a failure. 

The first successful daguerreotype portraits were made at the 
New York University, by Dr. Draper. The process, invented 
by Daguerre, in France, was purchased by the French Govern 
ment, ami was never used in copying landscapes and likenesses, 
and was onlv adapted to statuary and architecture. When the 
news of Dr. Draper's discovery reached London, its success 
was ascribed to the peculiar brilliancy of the American sun- 
light. 

A tornado visited the city of Natchez, on the 7th of May, 
occasioning an immense destruction of property and loss of 
life. Several steamboats were destroyed at tbe wharves, and 
many persons who had embarked in them were drowned. A 
large number of flat-boats were wrecked by the gale, and a 
number of boatmen, estimated at upwards of two hundred, 
perished. The wi'cck of one steamboat was afterwards found 
at Baton Rouge, with fifty-one dead bodies on it. Of one 
hundred and twenty flat-boats at the landing, all but four were 
lost. The water in the river was agitated to that degree 
that the best swimmers could not save themselves. Many 
houses were blown down and several unroofed. 

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was completed from 
Georgetown, D. C, to Cumberland, Pa., a distance of one 
hundred and ninety-one miles, at a cost of about sixteen mil- 
lions of dollars. 

The Housatonic Railroad, in Connecticut, was completed 
from Bridgeport to New ]Milford on the 12th of February ; 



312 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

tlie Raleigh and Gaston, and the Wilmington and Roanoke, in 
North Carolina, in April; and the New Bedford and Taunton, 
in Massachusetts, on the 1st of July. 

Mdlle. Fanny Elssler, the celebrated danseuse, made her first 
appearance in America at the Park Theatre, New York. Her 
engagement was a great success, and a tour through the coun- 
try was one of imabated triumph. 
1841 William Henry Harrison was inaugurated President on the 
4th of March, and died exactly one month afterwards, when he 
was succeeded by John Tyler, the Vice-President. 

On the 7th of November, a bri^ from Richmond, Va., sailed 
for New Orleans with one hundred and thirty-five slaves on 
board. When near the Bahama Islands, nineteen of the slaves 
arose and took possession of the vessel to secure their liberty. 
In the struggle which ensued, a slave-vender was killed, and 
the captain, first mate, and ten of the crew were severely 
wounded. The vessel was then sailed to Nassau, and being on 
English soil, the slaves retained their liberty. 

A riot took place at Cincinnati in September, lasting two 
days, incited by the mob against the abolitionists and blacks. 
Bands of anned men patrolled tbe streets in search of negroes ; 
a colored meeting-house and several houses were demolished. 

The first exportation of American clocks was made this yeai'. 
They were sent to England, and the invoice appeared to be so 
ridiculously low to the custom-house authorities at Liverpool 
that they were at first seized for under- valuation. This ven- 
ture proving successful, the business was continued, and devel- 
oped into one of large dimensions; and clocks were sent to the 
different coimtries of Europe, to Asia, and South America. 
Before the use of brass movements, shipments were not made 
across the ocean, as the old wooden clocks then in use would 
be ruined, because exposure to the humidity of the sea caused 
the movements of the clocks to swell and ruin them. 

The grain-drill for planting wheat was patented in March, 
and its introduction among the farmers attempted, but was 
only after the lapse of years that its value was recognized and 
acknowledged. 

The first steam fire-engine in this country was completed 
and put to use in New York, under a contract made with the 
associated insurance companies. It was, however, afterwards 
sold and converted to other purposes, its"great weight proving 
to be a fatal objection to its use. 

The ex^jress business continued to make progress. It was 
continued this year as far south as Philadelphia, and west to 
Albany. 

The JVew YovTc Tribiinw issued its first number on the 10th of 
April, edited by Horace Greeley. It Avas about one third its 
present size, and commenced with about six himdred subscrib- 
ers, procured by the exertions of a few of the editor's personal 
and political friends. The expenses of the first week of its 
existence were five hundrod and twenty-five dollars ; and the 
receipts, ninety-two dollars. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 113 

The Western Railroad was completed on the 21st of Decem- 
ber, and communication was opened by railroad between Bos- 
ton and the Hudson, opposite Albany. The railroad between 
Auburn and Rochester was also completed, thus making a con- 
tinuous railroad between Boston and Rochester, excepting the 
ferry at Albany. 
1842 It was provided in a treaty executed between Great Britain 
and the United States, that the latter nation should keep a force 
of one thousand men and eighty guns on the coast of Africa to 
assist in suppressing the slave-trade. 

On the 1st of August, the colored people in Philadelphia at- 
tempted a celebration in commemoration of West India eman- 
cipation. Their procession was assailed by a mob, who exe- 
cuted many deeds of violence and bloodshed. A public hall 
and a church were burned, and several private houses de- 
molished. Disturl)ances of like natui-e occurred at New Bed- 
ford, Nantucket, and other places. Anti-slavery meetings 
were broken up, halls damaged, and people assaulted. 

Pennsylvania and Maryland this year made default ia the 
payment of interest on their State debts. 

A government expedition, consisting of twenty-eight Cana- 
dians and Creoles who were accustomed to prairie life, com- 
manded by John C. Fremont and accompanied by the cele- 
brated Kit Carson as a guide, left Choteau's trading-house, on 
the Missouri River, for the pui'pose of ex|jIoring the country 
between the frontier of Missouri and the South Pass in the; 
Rocky Mountains, on the line of the Great Platte and Kansas 
Rivers. On the 14th of July they reached Fort Laramie, on 
Laramie River, a post belonging to the American Fur Com- 
pany, and inhabited by a motley collection of traders, with their 
Indian wives and parti-colored children. In August thej- came 
to their destination, and Fremont ascended the loftiest peak in 
that range of the mountains, about one hundred miles south of 
Oregon. This peak is thirteen thousand live hundred and 
seventj' feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico. On oni- 
side of the mountain could be seen innumerable lakes and 
streams and the springs of the Colorado, and on the other the 
Wind River Valley, where were the sources of the Yellowstone 
branch of the Missouri. Soon after the party set out on their 
return, and on the 17th of Octolier arrived at St. Louis. 

The Bunker Hill Monument was entirely completed on the 
23d of July. The obelisk is thirty feet square at the base, tif- 
teen feet square at the top, and two hundred and twenty-one 
feet high. It is built of Quincy granite. 

Rhode Island was agitated this year by "Dorr's rebellion,"' 
as it was called. The old charter was and always had been the 
basis of the organic law for the State, and allowed the right of 
suffrage only to owners of a certain amount of real estate, and 
to their eldest sons. Mr. Dorr for several years, while a member 
of the assembly, exerted himself without avail to procure the 
substitution of a liberal constitution in place of the old charter. 
He then resorted to popular agitation, and organized a suffrage 



114 HISTORY OF Tin: UMTKD STATES. 

parry in opposition to the charter party. The suffrage party, 
after holding several large mass conventions, called a delegate 
State convention to frame a new constitution, which was sub- 
mitted for ratification to the popular vote. It received fourteen 
thousand votes, a clear majority of the citizens of the State. 
The charter party, however, contended that a large proportion 
of the votes were fraudulent. Mr. Dorr and his party assumed 
that the new constitution was the fundamental law of the State, 
and proceeded in accordance with it to hold an election for 
State officers. Mr. Dorr was chosen gorernor, and a legislature, 
composed exclusively of his supporters, was elected. The 
charter party also held an election, polling fifty-seven hundred 
votes, while the suffrage party claimed to have polled seventy- 
three hundred. On the 3d of May, Mr. Dorr's party attempted 
to organize at Providence. The other party formed a State 
government on the same day at Newport, with Samuel W. 
King as governor. Governor King proclaimed the State under 
martial law, called out the militia, and asked and obtained the 
aid of the United States troops to suppress the movements of 
Dorr and his party. On the 18th of May a portion of the suf- 
frage party assembled at Providence under arms, and attempted 
to seize the arsenal, but dispersed on the approach of Gov- 
ernor King with a military force. They assembled again at a 
place about ten miles from Providence, but being attacked by 
the State troops they dispersed without resistance. ]Mr. Dorr 
took refuge in Connecticut and afterward in New Hampshire. 
A reward of four thousand dollars was offered for his appre- 
hension by the authorities of Rhode Island. He soon retiu-ned 
to the State, was arrested, tried, and convicted of high treason 
and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He was subsequently 
pardoned and restored to his civil rights, and the record of his 
sentence expunged. He lived to see his State under a liberal 
constitution, and his party in legal possession of the govern- 
ment. 

The Croton Aqueduct, for supplying water to the citizens of 
New York, was completed, and on the 14th of October the 
event was celebrated. Its length is about fort}" miles, and cost 
about twelve and a half millions of dollars. 

The city of Dubuque, in Iowa, was incorporated. It is the 
oldest town in the State, it having been-settied by the French 
in 1788. * . 

The first manufacture of piano and damask table-covers by 
power-looms was commenced in Pennsylv;.nia. 

The first submarine telegraph in this country was laid on 
the 18th of October, between Governor's Island in the harbor 
of the city of New York, and the Battery in that city. It was 
invented by Professor Morse, and consisted of a copper wire 
insulated by means of a hempen strand coated with tar, pitch, 
and India-rubber. The next morning communications were 
beginning to be received through it, when the wire was caught 
by an anchor upon being hauled up, and a large portion of it 
destroyed. This disturbance of the experiment led Professor 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 115 

Morse to invent the method of transmitting the current across 
a body of water, by means of extending the wires a distance 
proportionate to the width along the banks on each side, and 
causing the poles to terminate each pair opposite each other 
in large metallic ])lates in the water. 

The first introduction of wire-ropes was made by Mr. John 
A. Roebling, who manufactured them for use on the inclined 
planes of the Alleghany Portage Railroad, crossing the mouu 
tains and connecting the eastern and western divisions of the 
Pennsylvania Canal. Hemp-ropes had been heretofore used 
upon that railroad, at an annual expense of about twenty thou- 
sand dollars. 

On the 21st of September, George Vandenhoflf, who afterwards 
made himself universally popular as a dramatic reader, made his 
tirst appearance in America, at the Park Theatre in New York. 
On the 4th of October, Mr. John Brougham appeared for the first 
time in this country at the same place. 

The railroad from Rochester to Buffalo, the last link in the 
line from Boston to Lake Erie; and the Philadelphia and Read 
ing Railroad, were completed this year. The Concord and 
Nashua Railroad was opened for travel on the 1st of Septem- 
ber. 

On the 15th of April, the steamboat Medora, belonging to 
the Baltimore Steam Packet Company, when about starting 
from Baltimore on a trial trip, exploded her boiler, killing 
twenty-seven persons and scalding and seriously injuring forty 
others. 
1843 About one thousand men, women, and children assembled at 
Westport, on the Missouri frontier, in June, and commenced an 
emigration to Oregon, where they arrived, after a laborious and 
fatiguing journe}" of more than two thousand miles, in October. 
Other emigrations soon followed, and Ijefore the close of the 
year over three thousand settlers were in Oregon. 

A second exploring expedition, connnanded by John C. Fre- 
mont, consisting of thirty-nine men, Amtricans, Creoles, and 
Canadians, left the town of Kansas, on the Missouri frontier, on 
the 29th of May, for Oregon and California. On the 11th of 
July, they came in sight of Pike's Peak, having passed numer- 
ous trains of emigrant wagons on their waj', and on the 13th of 
August they crossed the Rocky Mountains at South Pass, which 
is about half-way between the Missis'sippi River and the Pacific 
Ocean. In September they visited the Great Salt Lake, and on 
the 25th of October they reached the Columbia River. On the 
4th of November, they proceeded in boats to Fort Vancouver, 
on the Columbia, about one hundred miles from its mouth, and 
on the 25th, started on their return journey by a southern route. 
A submarine telegraph cable was laid between Coney Island 
and Fire Island antl the city of New Yoi'k, by Mr. Samuel 
Colt, and operated with success. The cable was insulated by 
being covered with a combination of cotton yarn, asphaltum, 
and beeswax, and the whole inclosed in a lead pipe, gutta-percha 
being unknown at this time. 



116 HISTORY OF THE UXITLl) STATES. 

Cincinnati was ligbted with gas for the first time on the 14th 
of January. 

The exijress business was extended from Philadclpliia to Bal- 
timore, under a partnership company called Adams & Com- 
pany. 

The first lake propeller was launched at Cleveland. It used 
the screw of Ericsson's patent. 

The Miami Canal, connecting the Ohio at Cincinnati with 
Lake Erie at Toledo, a distance of two hundred and fifteen 
miles, was completed. The work was formally commenced on 
the 4th of July, 1825. 

The Georgia Railroad, one hundred and seventy-one miles in 
length, connecting Augusta with Atlanta ; the Georgia Central, 
one hundred and ninety -one miles, between Savannah and Ma- 
con ; and the Boston and Maine, between Boston and Berwick, 
were all opened for travel this year. 

The renowned violinist Ole Bull made his first appearance 
in America on the 25th of November, at the Park Theatre in 
New York. Charles Walcott, for many years considered 
among the best light and eccentric comedians on the stage, made 
his debut at the Olympic Theatre in New York. 
1844 The candidates of the Democratic party this year were James 
K. Polk for President, and George M. Dallas for Vice-Presiilcnt. 
The Whig candidates were Henry Clay and Theodore M. Fre- 
linghuysen. The most important issue in the election contest 
was the question of the immediate annexation of Texas to the 
United States, the former party advocating it, the latter oppos- 
ing. Some opposed the scheme because they feared the exten- 
sion of slave territory, others that the United States would be 
involved in war with Mexico. The result of the election was 
successful to the Democratic candidates, Mr. Polk and Mr. 
Dallas each receiving one hundred and seventy electoral votes, 
and Clay and Frelinghuysen one hundred and five. Mr. Bir- 
ney was again nominated by the Abolitionists for President, 
and received of the ])opular vote nearly sixty-five thousand. 

The peo])le of Illinois, in the neighborhood of Nauvoo, felt 
scandalized at the tloctrines and practices of the Mormons. A 
newspaper was started to agitate the question of their expulsion 
from the locality. By the orders of Smith the Prophet, the 
obnoxious press was destroyed, the printingmaterials dispersed, 
and the editors were obliged to flee for theirlives. At Carthage, 
warrants were prepared for the arrest of Smith, his brother, and 
sixteen others, accused of being accessories in the destruction 
of the printing-office. The constables sent to arrest them were 
expelled from Nauvoo. The people of the county were re- 
solved to vindicate their laws, and the militia were ordered out. 
The Mormons fortified their city, and the governor of the State 
took the field in person. To avoid bloodshed, he parleyed with 
the Mormon leaders, and persuaded Smith and his brother to 
surrender themselves to the civil authority, with the assurance 
that they would receive protection and justice. The fiercest 
animosity existed between the people of Hancock County and 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 11/ 

the Mormons. The idea prevailed that at the connivance of the 
governor the Mormon leaders would be allowed to escape. To 
prevent this, a mob with blackened faces assembled on the even- 
ing of the 27th of June, fell upon and dispersed the guard at 
Carthage jail, and rushed into the prison where the two Smiths 
were confined. Smith was mortally wounded while attempting 
to j<mip from the window, and his brother was shot dead in the 
cell. The murderers were never identified. Upon the death 
of Smith, the choice of a new head for the sect fell upon Brig- 
ham Young. Disturbances occurred from time to time after 
this, until in the year 1846 the Mormons resolved to remove 
beyond the limits of civilization. 

The Fremont Exploring Expedition returned to Kansas, its 
starting-point, on the 31st of July, having visited this year the 
southern end of the Great Salt Lake; the Pass in the Sierra Ne- 
vada, a point within two degrees of the Pacitic Ocean, far south 
of the latitude of Monterey; and a portion of New Mexico. On 
their return they crossed the Rocky Mountains about one hun- 
dred and ninety miles south of the South Pass. 

This year is marked by the introduction, by Professor Morse, 
of the magnetic telegraph, and vulcanized India-rubber invented 
by Charles Goodyear. As to the first. Professor Morse had in- 
terested Congress in his invention, and secured an appropriation 
of thirty thousand dollars for the construction of an experi- 
mental line between Washington and Baltimore. The con- 
ducting wires were first put into tubes placed in the ground, 
but that system soon proved to be impracticable, and then they 
were strung above on poles. The wires were covered with rope- 
yarn and tar, to protect them against the weather. By the 
month of May, the whole line was laid, and magnets and re- 
cording instruments were attached to the ends of the wires at 
Mount Clare Depot, Baltimore, and at the Supreme Court Cham- 
ber in the Capitol at Washington, and messages were success- 
fully transmitted. Mr. Morse then sought further government 
patronage, which was declined upon the advice of the Post- 
master General, who, in his report upon the subject, declared 
his belief that the telegraph, although an interesting experi- 
ment, could never become of practical value, and consequently 
a very moderate offer made by Professor Morse for the sale of 
his entire invention to the government was declined. An appeal 
to the enterprise was then made to the business men of the 
country. In order to bring the invention to their attention, Mr. 
Ezra Cornell, who had superintended the erection of the ex- 
perimental line, opened for exhibition a short line of telegraph 
in Boston. Finding but little encouragement in that city, the 
exhibition was soon abandoned there and transferred to' New 
York, where an experimental line was opened in the autumn, 
between No. 112 Broadway to a point just above the present 
Metropolitan Hotel. So little attention did the invention then 
receive, that Mr. Cornell and his assistant found it extremely 
difficult to maintain themselves in the most humble manner 
uj)on the admission-fee of one shilling per head, charged to view 



118 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

tbe exhibition. Early in the next year ]Mr. Amos Kendall, who 
had been selected by Mr. Morse as his agent for the purpose, 
made exertions with the public to secure capital for a line of tele- 
graph from New Yoi'k to Baltimore and Washington. Meeting 
with little favor, he thought best to attempt its construction first 
between New York and Philadelphia, and to limit the request for 
capital to the probable cost of that section. The estimated cost 
of a line from Philadelphia to Hudson River was fifteen thou 
sand dollars, which sum was with difficulty secured, chiefly 
outside of New York. Mr. Corcoran of Washington was the 
first to contribute. It was pro\aded in the original subsciiption 
that the payment of fifty dollars should entitle the subscriber 
to two shares of fifty dollars each. A payment of fifteen thou- 
sand dollars, therefore, required an issue of thirty thousand 
dollars stock. To the patentees w^ere issued an addit^ional thirty 
thousand dollars of stock, or half the capital, as the consider- 
ation CI the patent. The capital stock was therefore fixed at 
sixty thousand dollars. Meanwhile an act of incoiporation was 
granted by the Legislature of Maryland — the first telegraphic 
charter issued in the United States.' The name of the companj' 
was entitled " The Magnetic Telegraph Company."' 

Charles Goodyear, after experimenting more than ten years, 
and more than five years after he had discovered the .secret of 
vulcanization, succeeded in conducting his process with abso- 
lute certainty. It was in 1820 that a pair of nibber shoes was 
seen for the first time in the United States. They were covered 
with gilding, and resemljled in shape the shoes of a Chinaman. 
They were handed about in Boston only as a curicsity. Two 
oi' three years after, a ship from South America brought to Bos- 
ton fi\'c hundred pairs of shoes, thick, heavy, and ill-shaped, 
which sold so readily as to invite further importations. In 
1830, vast quantities of the raw gum reached the United States, 
covered with hides, in masses, of which no use could be made, 
and it remained unsold, or was sent to England. The raw 
rubber could then be bought in Boston at five cents a pound, 
and the idea of findhig some means of utilizing it was suggested 
to Mr. E. M. Chaffee, a foreman of a Boston patent-leather fac- 
tory. He experimented with the article, and succeeded, as he 
supposed, in making an invention of great value. He made 
some specimens of cloth spread with rubber, which, after being- 
dried in the sun, presented a surface Tinn and smooth, that 
appeared to possess the good qualities of i^atent-leather, with 
tl)e additional one of being water-proof. A number of capi- 
talists were convinced of the value of his invention, and they 
formed a company in 1833 at Roxbury, with thirty thousand 
dollars capital. The success of the enterprise was astonishing, 
and within a year the capital w^as increased to one hmidred and 
forty thousand dollars. Before another j'car expired this was 
increased to three hundred thousand, and in the jear following 
to four hundred thousand. The company manufactured many 
articles of cloth covered with rubber, such as coats, caps, wagon 
curtains, coverings, and shoes of pure rubber without cloth. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 119 

The goods sold more rapidlj' tban they could be manufactured. 
The prosperity of the Roxbiiry company called into existence 
similar establishments in other towns. Manufactories were 
started at Boston, Framingham, Salem, Lynn, Chelsea, Troy, 
and Staten Island, with capitals ranging from one hundred 
thousand dollars to half a million, and all of them appeared to 
prosper. It was in 1834, when the business was most flourish- 
ing, that Mr. Goodyear's attention was called to a rubber life- 
preserver, and he thought he could make an improvement in 
the inflating apparatus. He explained his contrivance to the 
agent of the Roxbury company, and ofl'ered to sell it. The 
agent, struck with the ingenuity displayed in the invention, 
took Mr. Goodyear into his contidence, and suggested his aid in 
overcoming a difficulty that threatened the company with ruin. 
He told him that the prosperity of the rubber companies was 
fallacious. Vast quantities of shoes and fabrics had been sold 
by his company at high prices in the cool months, but during 
the following summer the greater part of them had melted. 
Twenty thousand dollars' worth had been returned, reduced to 
the consistency of common gum, and emitting an odor so ofl'cn- 
sive that they had lieen obliged to bury it. Experiments made 
to overcome the difficulty had proved unsuccessful. Goods 
would become sticky in the sun and rigid in the cold. The 
agent urged Goodj^ear not to waste time upon minor improve- 
ments, but to direct all his efforts to finding out the secret of 
successful]}^ working the material itself. This chance conver- 
sation with the agent led Goodyear to investigate the subject, 
and to continue his experiments year after j'ear, against almost 
overwhelming discouragements and adversities. ^Meanwhile 
the business of all the rubber companies began to decline, and 
before the close of 1836 ceased altogether, resulting in a loss of 
about two millions of dollars. 

The first operations in copper-mining in the Lake Superior 
region were commenced this year. 

The second attempt in the United States to establish a theatre 
for operatic performances exclusiveh^ was made in New York 
by Ferdinand Palmo, who erected a building for the purpose 
on Chambers Street, in the rear of the City Hall. The enter- 
prise was a failure, and the building was subsequently sold to 
William E. Burton, who used it for light comedy. 

A treaty was made between the United States and China, bj' 
which the citizens of this country were permitted to frequent, 
trade, and to reside at the ports of Kwang-chow, Amoy, Fu- 
chow, Ningpo, and Shanghai. 

In June occurred a rise of the Missouri and the middle sec- 
tion of the Mississippi rivers, which far exceeded all former 
floods of those rivers ever known, destroying an immense 
amount of property. 

The steamboat Shepherdess, while ascending the Mississippi, 
about eleven o'clock on the night of the 2d of January, struck 
a snag when about three miles south of St. Louis. In less than 
two minutes after the water rose to the lower deck, where many 



120 HISTORY OF THE UJN^ITED STATES. 

of the passengers were sleeping. Upwards of forty lives were 
lost by this catastrophe. On the 25th of October, three of the 
boilers of the steamboat Lucy Walker burst, the boat caught 
fire, and over fifty lives were destroyed, besides several persons 
/ injured. This calamity took place on the Ohio, near New Al- 
bany, Indiana. More than eighty persons lost their lives by a 
collision between two steamboats on the Mississippi on the 1st 
of March. The concussion was so violent as to sink one of the 
boats in five minutes. 

The first American newspaper established on the Pacific 
coast was issued at Oregon City, and called the Flumgudgeon 
Gazette, or Bumble Bee Budget. The Evening Journal wtis 
established at Chicago. 

The Polka dance was introduced this year into this countrj'; 
and a piece entitled "Polka Mania" was played at a theatre in 
New York, where the dance, from its novelty, attracted great 
crowds to witness the peiformance. 
1845 On the 4th of March, James K. Polk and George M. Dallas 
commenced their terms of office as President and Vice-President 
of the United States. 

Congress passed a bill for the annexation of Texas to the 
United States, which was signed by President Tyler on the 3il 
of March. The debate upon this subject had been long and 
violent. On the 16th of June, the Texan Congress accepted the 
terms of annexation, and on the 4th of July it was made com- 
plete. In December, Texas was admitted into the Union as a 
State, with a constitution permitting slavery v.ithin her limits. 
The Convention of Texas having authorized and requested the 
President of the United States to occupy and establish posts 
without delay upon the frontier and exposed positions of that 
republic, and to introduce such forces as were deemed necessary 
for the defence of the teri-itory and people of Texas, au "army 
of occupation" was despatched from the United States, under 
the command of General Taylor, and on the 26th of July a 
body of United States troops landed from steam-vessels, at 
Aransas Bay, on which day the American flag was first planted 
in Texas, upon the south end of St. Joseph's Island. This 
movement and the measures of annexation agreed upon by 
the United States and Texas, were looked upon by the Mexican 
Government as acts of hostility towards Mexico, and prepara- 
tions were made by the republic for an appeal to arms. 

Congress passed acts admitting Florida and Iowa into the 
Union. 

Congress reduced the rate of postage, making it five cents on 
single letters not exceeding three hundred miles, and ten cents 
over that distance. 

Congress passed an act fixing the Tuesday after the first 
^'londay in November as the daj' of the presidential election in 
all the States. Heretofore the election was held at different 
times in the different States, and frequently its result was fijially 
influenced by the votes in the States which held the first 
elections. 



HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES. 121 

The first Express business established west of Buffalo went 
mto operation in April, under the name of Wells & Company. 

Petroleum was obtained in boring for salt near Tarentum, on 
the Alleghany, thirtj-five miles above Pittsburg. Before this, 
the Seneca Indians gathered supplies of it, and it was linown 
as Seneca oil, or Genesee oil, from its being found also near the 
head of the Grenesee River. 

Atlanta, Ga., was laid out as a town. 

Improvements in the manufacture of carpets were introduced, 
by the invention of machinery for making Brussels aiul 
tapestry goods, by which eighteen to twenty yards of those 
carpets could be manufactured in a day, against four or five 
heretofore made by hand. By the improved method of pro- 
ducing figures, they would match, which operation when done 
by hand would match only imperfectly. 

A conflagration occurred at Pittsburg, on the 10th of April, 
by which a large portion of the city was laid waste, and a greater 
number of houses destroyed than by all the fires whicli had 
previously visited the city. Twenty squares, containing about 
eleven hundred buildings, with their contents, were destroyed, 
involving a loss, as estimated, of ten millions of dollars. A 
conflagration occurred at New York on the 19th of July, de- 
stroying property of the estimated value of over five millions 
of dollars, including three hundred and forty-five buildings. 
The burned district embraced New, Broad, Beaver, Market- 
field, Stone, and Whitehall streets. Exchange Place, and lower 
Broadway. 

As the steamboat Marquette was leaving her wharf at New 
Orleans, on the 1st of July, all her boilers exploded simul- 
taneously, killing about fifty persons. On the night of the 
8th of January, the steamboat Belle Zane, while on her ^\'ay 
from Zauesville, Ohio, to New Orleans, struck a snag in the 
Mississippi, and immediately capsized. Of the ninety persons 
on board, only fifty escaped drowning, and many of those who 
succeeded in reaching the shore were afterwards frozen to 
death. Others suffered amputation of their limbs, which were 
badly frozen. 

Mrs. Anna Cora Mowatt, a very popular actress, made her 
debut at the Park Theatre, in New^ York, on the 13th of June. 
1846 The northern lx)vmdary of Oregon was settled by treaty 
between the British Government and the United States, on the 
loth of June, to be on the forty -ninth degree of north latitude. 
By this treaty the last remaining subject of controversy between 
the two nations was removed, and the relations of the United 
States and Great Britain were thus placed on the most firm and 
amicable footing. 

Congress declared war against Mexico on the 13th of May, 
and soon passed other acts for carrying it on Avith ^igor. The 
army under General Taylor arrived at the left bank of the 
Rio Grande about the last of March, and occupied a position 
opposite Matamoras. The Mexican generals commanding their 
troops on the Rio Grande declared that the advance of the 



122 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

American army was a hostile movement, and commenced 
hostilities by capturing a detachment of American troops which 
Avere out on a reconnoitring expedition. The Mexican Govern- 
ment claimed that the boundary of Texas was the river IS ueces, 
Avhile the Americans claimed that the territory of Texas ex- 
tended to the Rio Grande. On the 8th of May, General Taylor 
encountered the Mexicans in considerable force at Palo Alto, 
where an action ensued, and the Mexicans were defeated. 
On the next day the hostile forces again met seven miles in 
advance, when the Americans were again victorious, and the 
Mexicans retreated, with great loss, across the Rio Grande. 
During General Taylor's absence. Fort Brown, opposite Mata- 
moras, was bombarded by the Mexican batteries from the 4th 
to the 9th of May. After establishing his base of o])perations 
on the Rio Grande, General Taylor, on the 18th of May, took 
military possession of the city of Matamoras, and then moved 
into the enemy's country in the direction of Monterey. Another 
portion of the army under General Wool was concentrated at 
San Antonio de Bexar for a movement upon Chihuahua. The 
army under General Taylor arrived before Monterey, on the 
19th of September, and commenced the attack on that strongly 
fortified city on the 21st, the battle continuing through that 
and the two succeeding days. The Americans attacked the 
enemy in his fortified position, captured his batteries and 
various fortresses, when the place capitulated. General Wool 
penetrated the Department of Coahuila, lo Monclova, and 
afterwards formed a junction with the forces under General 
Taylor at Saltillo. Another army under the command of Gene- 
ral Kearney, moved from Fort Leavenworth upon Santa Fe, 
where it arrived, after a march of eight hundred and seventy - 
three miles, on the 18th of August, and took military possession 
of New Mexico without resistance. After establisinng a civil 
government for that teri-itorj', General Kearney departed with a 
portion of his forces for California. On his route thitber he met 
an express sent by Commodore Stockton and Captain Fremont, 
wbo reported that they were already in possession of California. 
On receiving this intelligence. General Kearney sent back a 
portion of his troops and continued his march to California, 
where he arrived in December. After various actions and 
skirmishes with the enemy, the American forces remained in 
possession of the Californias. 

Commodore Stockton, in conjunction with Captain Fremont, 
who was in command of a third United States exploring ex- 
pedition, conquered California after a few skirmishes witli the 
Mexicans, and established a civil government for that country. 

An expedition, consisting of two ships under the command of 
Commodore Biddle, was despatched to Japan by the United 
States to open negotiations for commerce with that empire. 
The expedition reached the Bay of Jeddo in July, but being 
imperatively refused in its requests, after remaining there ten 
days it sailed away on its return to America, without accom- 
plishing the object of the voyage. 



HISTORT OF THE UXITED STATES. 123 

The Mormons having been persecuted by the citizens of 
Illinois, and having found that they could not practise their 
religion and customs in that State without continual war with 
the inhabitants, resolved upon removing to the distant wilder- 
ness. In February, a portion of the sect, consisting of sixteen 
hundred men, women, and children, crossed the Mississippi on 
the ice, and travelling with ox-teams and on foot, penetrated the 
country to the Indian Territory, near Council Bluflfs, on the 
Missouri, which they reached, under the guidance of President 
Brigham Young, at the opening of summer. From that place; 
they journeyed on until the following spring, wdieu they settled 
vipon the Great Prairie inhabited by the Omahaws. Here they 
built a city of seven hundred houses, a tabernacle, constnicted 
mills and workshops, and established a newspaper. They sent 
missionaries to Oregon, California, the Sandwich Islands, and 
even to Australia, to secure converts. Some were sent to tix a 
home still farther away from civilization, and the}' selected the 
valley of the Great Salt Lake for a permanent habitation. In 
1848, a general migration of the Mormons set in for that local- 
ity. The New Jerusalem was laid out within an area of four 
square miles, with broad streets and spacious sidewalks. The 
work of building a city went on rapidly. A spacious house 
was built for Brigham Young and his council, and in less than 
two years after the advent of the ]3ioneers in the valley, a 
convention was called at Great Salt Lake City to organize a civil 
government. A free and independent government, by the name 
of the State of Deseret, was ordained, and a constitution was 
adopted, designed to remain in force only until the Congress of 
the United States should erect the settlement into a Territory. 
A Territorial government was established in 1850, and Brigham 
Young was appointed governor by the President of the United 
States. 

The seat of government for Alabama was removed from 
Tuscaloosa to Montgomery. 

A patent for a sewing-machine was granted Elias Howe, Jr. , 
on the 10th of September. This was the first complete sewing- 
machine designed for domestic and general use. From this 
invention started the immense sewing-machine business of this 
country. At first Howe met with disappointment in establish 
ing its introduction, and he went to England, where he met the 
same scepticism as to its merit and utility. Returning to the 
United States, he found that his machine was imitated and in- 
troduced, and he became involved in law-suits, which continued 
until 1854. when the principal infringers acknowledged his 
rights, and arranged to manufacture sewing-machines under 
licenses from him. 

The discovery that sulphuric ether, when inhaled, produced 
insensibility to pain, Avas made this year. 

The Magnetic Telegraph Company completed the line of 
telegraph between Philadelphia and Fort Lee, on the New Jersey 
side of the Hudson, opposite Audubon's, on the upper end of 
New York Island, and from the latter place into the city on the 



124 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

20tli of January. Communication between Fort Lee and Audu- 
bon's was first establislied bj' means of a cotton- covered copper 
wire saturated with pitch and enclosed in a lead-pipe laid on the 
bottom of the river; but that plan soon proving to be a failure, 
messages were conveyed between the two points by boatmen. 
Soon aftei-wards the New Jersey termination was changed to 
Jersey City, and messages ^\ere taken across the river by ferry 
at frequent intervals, and delivered in New York. Soon after 
the completion of the New York and Philadelphia line, the 
capital of the company was enlarged sulficiently to paj^ the 
expense of its continuation to Baltimore, which line was com- 
pleted on the 5th of June. The cash receipts of the business of 
the company during this j^ear were forty-two hundred and 
twenty-eight dollars. In September, a telegraph line was com- 
pleted between Philadelphia and Hamsbui'g, and on the 29th 
of December it was extended to Pittsburg, and opened for 
business. On the 3d of July, telegraphic communication was 
opened between Boston and Buffalo, and between New York 
and Albany on the 9th of September. The line between Boston 
and New York was completed on the 27th of June. 

The lower section of the Northern Eailroad in New Hamp- 
shire was opened this year, and the whole road completed in 
the next year. 
1847 On the 22d of February was fought the battle of Buena 
Vista, near Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila, by the American 
troops under General Taylor, and the Mexican army under 
General Santa Anna. The latter consisted of twenty thousand 
men, while the American forces were less than one fourth that 
number, not five hundred of whom were regulars. The action 
continued two days, after which the Americans were left in 
possession of the field, and the Mexicans retreated to San Luis 
Potosi. The loss on both sides was severe — that of the Mexicans 
over fifteen hundred, and of the Americans about seven hun- 
dred and fifty, in killed and wounded. 

During the month of February an American land and naval 
force was concentrated on the Gulf of Mexico, the military 
being under the command of Major-General Scott, and the naval 
forces under Commodore Connor, who was afterwards relieved 
by Commodore Perr}'. On the 9th of March, the troops were 
debarked at Vera Cruz, and on the following day a rapid fire of 
shot and shells was opened from the city and castle, upon the 
position occupied by the American army. The landing of the 
mortars and guns for the American batteries was delayed for a 
few days; consequently the arrangements for a bombardment 
were not completed until the 22d of March, when General Scott 
summoned the city to surrender, which demand was refused by 
the Mexican governor. Orders were then given to fire upon 
the city, and a continued fire from the American batteries was 
kept up with teiTible effect until the 26th of March, when the 
batteries ceased playing, and articles of capitulation were signed 
on the following day. The stirrender of the city took place on 
the morning of the 29th, when the Mexican soldiers marched 



HISTORY OF THE UXITEl) STATlZo, 125 

out to a plain one mile outside of the town, wliere tbe Ameri- 
cans were drawn up to receive them. The Mexicans laid down 
their arms and departed for the interior. A succession of 
battles with imiform success was fought by the army under 
General Scott, on their march from Vera Cruz to the city of 
Mexico. On the 18th of April, they fought a battle at CeiTO 
Cordo with a Mexican anny of twelve thousand men, com- 
manded by Santa Anna, in which the Mexicans were defeated 
with a loss of one thousand in killed and wounded left on the 
field, and three thousand prisoners. General Scott's force con- 
sisted of eighty-five hundred men, and his loss was four hun- 
dred and thirty. In August the American army, recruited to 
the number of about eleven thousand men, advanced upon the 
city of Mexico. On the 20th one of the fortresses defending 
that city was assaulted and taken, ^vith about one thousand 
prisoners, the Mexicans losing about fifteen himdred men in 
killed and wounded. On the same day the battle of Churu- 
busco was fought, in which a Mexican army of about thirtj' 
thousand men was engaged, and they were again defeated, leav- 
ing the city at the mercy of the Americans. In this battle the 
Mexicans lost ten thousand men, one fourth of whom w'ere 
prisoners, the rest killed and wounded. An armistice was 
soon concluded with Santa Anna for the purpose of negotiating 
a peace. In September hostilities commenced again, each 
party accusing the other of \aolating the armistice. On the 8th 
the Americans stormed and carried the fortified works of 
Molino del Rey, the Mexicans losing about twenty-eight hun- 
dred men, the Americans eight hundred. On the 13th Chapul- 
tepec was assaulted and carried, and the Mexicans defeated with 
great loss. On the 14th, the Americans entered and took pos- 
session of the city of Mexico, and hostilities ceased from this 
time. 

On the 29th of November, a party of Indians attacked the 
fortified post at Walla Walla, in Oregon, murdered fifteen 
Americans, and carried away captive sixty -one prisoners. Upon 
the receipt of the news in the Willamette settlements, troops 
were raised and an expedition sent against the Indians, who 
were defeated in three battles, and their villages and crops de- 
stroyed. 

The first American school in Minnesota was established this 
year at St. Paul. 

The city of Indianapolis was chartered, and, on the 1st of 
May, organized under a city government. At this period the 
place contained a population of about six thousand. The first 
wholesale dry-goods house was established. 

The first theatre in Chicago was opened on the 28th of June. 
The Chicago Tribtine issued its first number. 

The first importation of gutta percha into the United States 
was made. Twenty-five thousand pounds arrived direct from 
Singapore. 

The zinc-mines in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, were dis- 
covered this vear. 



126 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

The first successful type-revolving press in this or any other 
eountry was made by R. Hoe & Co. , in New York. 

Several lines of telegraph were completed this year, in differ- 
ent sections of the country, and from this time they continued 
to spread in every direction. 

On the 19th of November, two steamboats came in collision 
on the Mississippi, near Cape Girardeau. One of the boats sunk, 
drowning more than fifty persons. Two days afterwards, in 
the morning before daylight, the steamer Phoenix, on Lake Mich- 
igan, near Sheboygan, caught fire, and more than one hundred 
and sixty persons, principally emigrants from Holland, were 
burned to death or drowned. On the 29th of December, the 
steamboat A. N. Johnson exploded her boiler, on the Ohio, 
about twelve miles above Maysville, Ky., killing from sixty to 
eighty persons, and injuring many others. 
1848 A treaty of peace was signed on the 2d of Februarj', at the 
city of Guadalupe Hidalgo, between the Mexican commission- 
ers and Mr. Trist on the part of the United States. By this 
treaty the Rio Grande was acknowledged as one of the bounda- 
ries between the United States and Mexico, thus confirming the 
claims of the United States to Texas, and the territory between 
the river Nueces and the Rio Grande. New Mexico and Cali- 
fornia were ceded to the United States, in consideration of 
which the United States agreed to pay to Mexico the sum of 
fifteen millions of dollars; and to assume the claims due her citi- 
zens, to an amount not exceeding three and one fourth millions 
of dollars. The treaty was duly ratified by the Mexican Con- 
gress and the United States Senate. 

Oregon was erected into a Territory, and Wisconsin admitted 
into the Union. 

At the presidential election this year, the Democratic party 
voted for Lewis Cass for President, and William O. Butler 
for Vice-President. The candidates of the Whig parly were 
General Zachary Taylor for President, and Millard Fillmore 
for Vice-President. The agitation of the question of restrict- 
ing or prohibiting .slavery in the territor}- acquired from Mexi- 
co by the United States, caused the formation of a thirtl part}-, 
called the Free-Soil partj\ merging in its ranks most of those 
who had been organized as abolitionists, and drawing addition- 
al strength from both the Whig and Democratic parties in the 
Northern States. This party nominatedTlMartin Van Buren ior 
President, and Charles Francis Adams for Vice-President. 
The election resulted in the choice of the Whig candidates, each 
of whom received one hundred and twenty-seven electoral votes. 
The Democratic candidates received, each, one hundred and 
twenty-seven. The Free- Soil candidates obtained no electoral 
votes, but polled over two hundred and ninety thousand of the 
popular vote. 

Gold was discovered in the Sacramento Valley, California, 
early in the year. This fact got noised abroad, and in about 
three months upwards of four thousand persons were at work 
there, digging for gold and achieving remarkable success. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 127 

Further explorations showed that deposits of gold extended 
over a vast extent of country. This discovery at once changed 
the character of California. Its people, before engaged in cul- 
tivating small patches of gi'ouud and guarding their herds of 
cattle and horses, flocked to the mines, and the fever of getting 
suddenly rich raged among and pervaded the entire comnum- 
ity. 

The Pacific Mail Steamship Company was incorporated. 

The manufacture of gutta-percha was commenced in this 
countiy this year. The first submarine cable, in this or any 
other country, insulated with gutta-percha, was laid across the 
Passaic and Hudson rivers for the telegraph line between Phil- 
adelphia and New York. 

The Illinois and Michigan Canal, connecting Lake Michigan 
with the Illinois River, at La Salle, was completed in the 
spring. 

The suspension bridge across the Ohio at Wheeling was 
completed. Its span was ten hundred and ten feet. 

The corner-stone of the monument to General Washington, 
was laid at the city of Washington, on the 4th of July. 

The first importation of guano into this country Vas made 
this year. One thousand pounds were received. 

The first satisfactory experiment of recording time from a 
clock stationed at a distance was made on the 17th of Novem- 
ber. A delicate clock was especially contrived and wires were 
put up for the purpose, at the expense of the United States 
Coast Survey, between Cincinnati and Pittsburg, a distance of 
four hundred miles. The clock placed in the electric circuit 
recorded its beats at all the offices along the line upon a gradu- 
ated fillet of paper, on the plan of the Morse apparatus. 

St. Louis and Brooklyn were both lighted with gas this year, 
for the first time. 

A conflagration in Brookl^ii on the 9th of September de- 
stroyed about three hundred buildings and property valued at 
one and one half millions of dollars. The blocks bounded by 
Fulton, Henry, and Orange streets, and Fulton, Sands, Wash- 
ington, and Concord streels, were laid waste. 

The Cochituate water was introduced into Boston on the 2olh 
of October. 

The phenomena at Rochester, N. Y., called "Rochester 
Knockings," appeared this yeai", which soon caused not only 
great excitement at that place, but was a subject of wonder and 
newspaper comment throughout the country. ^Mysterious raii- 
pings occurred in the houses of ' ' mediums, " as they were called , 
which appeared to answer questions put by visitors. Much 
excitement was manifested in several places in the country, 
and, many people believing the commum"cations and the phe- 
nomena proceeded from spirits, they began to be designated 
as Spiritualists. 

A fourth exploring expedition under John C. Fremont left 
the Upper Pueblo Fort, near the head of Arkansas River, on 
the 25th of November. The previous expeditions of Fremont 



128 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

were for tlie benefit of tLe government, but this one was a pri- 
vate enterprise, with a principal object in view of discovering 
a proper highway connecting the Mississippi River with the 
Pacific Ocean. 

A terrible catastrophe attended an excursion on the Poto- 
mac, on the 28th of February, of the United States steamer 
Princeton, by the explosion of a gun, the power of which was 
being exhibited. Mr. Upshur, the Secretaiy of State, and Mr. 
Gilmer, Secretary of the Navy, were killed, and several dis- 
tinguished persons seriously injured. On the 27th of May, the 
steamer Clarksville, a regular packet-boat plying between New 
Orleans and Memphis, was destroyed by fire near Ozark Island, 
by which disaster thirty passengers and nearly all the crew lost 
their lives. On the 9th of August, a flue on the steamer Ed- 
ward Bates collapsed on the Mississippi, near Hamburg, 111., 
causing the death of fifty-three persons, and wounding forty 
others. Twenty eight persons were killed and several wounded 
by the bursting of the boilers of the steamer Concordia at 
Plaquemine, La., on the 16th of September. 
1849 On the 5th of March, Zachary Taylor, as President, and 
Millard Fillmore, as Vice-President, took the oaths of oflice. 

On the 3d of March, Congress passed an act for organizing 
Minnesota under a Territorial government. St. Paul, con- 
taining at this time but a few log-huts, was made the seat of 
government. 

The United States ship Preble, forming a part of the Ameri- 
can fleet in the China seas, sailed for Japan in February to res- 
cue sixteen American seamen, who had been shipwrecked on 
the coasts of some of the Japanese islands, and had there 
been detained and imprisoned. As the ship approached the 
coast of Japan, an unsuccessful attempt was made to oppose 
her progress, and the object of her visit was attained only after 
threats of violent measures if the demand were further refused. 

The cholera visited America again this year. The disease 
prevailed at New Orleans nearly eight months, carrying oft" 
about thirty-five hundred persons. Almost every vessel which 
left the city had cases on board, which spread the disease over 
different sections of the country. The deaths from cholera in 
Memphis were 290; Nashville, 805; St. Louis, 4557; Chicago, 
678; Buffalo, 858; Sandusky, 285: Albany, 334; Boston, 611; 
New York, 5071; and Philadelphia, 1II22. 

Infoiniiation of the gold discoveries in California spread in 
every direction, and adventurers flocked ihere from all quar- 
ters; from the Pacific coast of Mexico and South America, the 
Sandwich Islands, and China. The American emigration 
commenced to arrive there by sea in July and August, and by 
overland in September. It was estimated there were fifteen 
thousand foreigners there in July. At a place called Sonorian 
Camp it was supposed there were ten thousand Mexicans alone. 
They had quite a city of booths, tents, and log-cabins, hotels, 
stores, and shops of all descriptions. An enclosure made of the 
trunks of trees, and lined with cotton-cloth, served as an am 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 129 

phitheatre for bull- fights and other amusements. The foreign- 
ers resorted principally to the southern mines, the Americans 
to the northern. The first season the laborers averaged about 
one ounce of gold per day. It was estimated that during this 
and the preceding year gold to the value of about forty mil- 
lions of dollars was collected, one half of which was taken 
out of the country by foreigners. The first regular banking 
house established in California was started at San Francisco on 
the 9th of January. In January, the first frame house on the 
banks of the Sacramento was erected at Sutter's Fort. Some 
few months later, the settlers at that place removed to the site 
of the present city of Sacramento. 

In June, Rev. Theobald Mathew, commonly called "Father 
Mathew," arrived in New York, whence he visited many of 
the important cities of the Union, and delivered lectures upon 
temperance to immense audiences. 

Edwin Booth, the celebrated tragedian, at this time not 
quite sixteen years of age, made his finst appearance on the 
stage at the Boston Museum, on the 10th of September. 

The first degree of " M.D." given in the United States to a 
woman was received by Elizabeth Blackwell from the Medical 
School of Geneva, N. Y., after she had made unsuccessful ap- 
plications at the schools of Philadelphia, New York, and 
Boston. 

The first newspaper in St. Paul was established there on the 
28th of April, under the name of the Pioneer. 

The New York Associated Press Association was formed. It 
was composed of the Journal of Commerce, Courier and En- 
quirer, Tribune, Herald, Sun, and Ex]3ress. 

In the month of May, occurred at New York what has been 
known as the Astor Place Riot. In con.sequence of an un- 
friendliness of long standing between Mr. Edwin Forrest and 
Macready, the celebrated English tragedian, the friends of the 
former actor threatened to prevent the appearance, as an 
nounced, of Mr. Macready in New York. On the night of the 
7th, when he appeared as " Macbeth" at the Opera House in As- 
tor Place, such was the confusion prevailing in all parts of the 
house, the manager was obliged to drop the curtain before the 
termination of thfe performance. Mr. Macready was thereupon 
inclined to cancel his engagement; but upon the publication of 
a card signed by many citizens, requesting him to continue, 
and promising to protect him in the discharge of his duties, he 
consented to perform on the evening of the 10th. On that oc- 
casion, owing to the precautions taken to preserve order in the 
house, he succeeded in acting his part, and at the end of the 
play was called out by the audience, whom he thanked for his 
protection and support. Outside the theatre, the friends of 
Forrest, after vainly endeavoring to effect an entrance, com 
menced an attack on the building with stones and missiles. 
The police being unable to restrain the mob, which was in- 
creasing in numbers and violence, and the reading of the riot 
act proving ineffectual, the military were called out and were 



130 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 

obliged to discharge several volle5's of musketry to quell Ibe 
disturbance. Twenty-two persons were killed and tbirtysix 
wounded. Mr. Macready escaped in disguise, and, making no 
further attempt to perform in New York, he soon left the 
country. 

A tire on the 17th of May destroyed a large part of the busi- 
ness portion of the city of St. Louis, involving a loss, as esti- 
mated, of three millions of dollars. 

In March, a flood devastated the city of New Orleans 
which was the most destructive that ever visited that place. 
Many of the streets were ten feet under water, and a large 
amount of merchandise was destroyed. The plantations above 
were overflowed, and the i^ush of water over the fields in some 
places was irresistible, carrying away everything which op- 
posed the current, which was believed to move at the rate of 
sixty miles an hour. The damage sustained by planters and 
others was estimated at sixty millions of dollars. 
1850 On the 9th of July, President Taylor died, and Millard Fill- 
more succeeded him in office. 

In September, Congress passed bills, after a vehement and 
protracted struggle upon the slavery question, for the admis- 
sion of California into the Union as a State ; for providing 
Territorial governments for Utah and New Mexico ; for the 
suppression of the slave-trade in the District of Columt)ia ; and 
a fugitive-slave bill. The bill authorizing the admission of 
California into the Union recognized the constitution of that 
State as framed by a convention ©f the people which prohi- 
bited slavery within her borders. The fugitive-slave bill im-' 
posed a fine of one thousand dollars, and six months' imprison- 
ment on any person harboring fugitive slaves, or aiding thein 
to escape. It was estimated that there T^cre more than twenty 
thousand fugitive slaves residing in the free States, a large 
number of whom had intermarried with free ]iersons, nnd the 
passage of this bill struck terror upon the whole colored popu- 
lation and their sj^mpathizing friends. Public meetings were 
held in difi'erent sections of the Northern States in condemna- 
tion of the bill. Eight days after the passage of the act, an 
agent armed with the po\ver of attorney from a slavc-o^\ner in 
Maryland, appeared in New York in search of one James 
Hamlit, a husband and father, a member of the Methodist 
church, and a resident in the city three^years. He was seized 
while at work, hurried into a retired room, tried in haste, 
delivered to the agent, handcuffed, taken aw'ay without an 
opportunity to bid farewell to his family, and put into prison 
in Baltimore. A few days afterwards, a similar scene was en- 
acted in Philadelphia. In Detroit an attempt to arrest a fugi- 
tive excited a popular resistance, to suppress which it was 
necessary to invoke the aid of the military. 

Congress passed an act donating the right of waj^ and a grant 
of land to the States of Illinois, Mississippi, and Alabama, in 
aid of the consti-uction of a railroad from Chicago to Mobile. 

Popular interest was excited this year by an invasion of Cuba 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 131 

from the American shores. An expedition of three hundred 
men, under the command of General Lopez, sailed from New 
Orleans on the 25th of April and the 2d of May, and landed 
at Cardenas on the 19th of May. A brief struggle ensued be- 
tween the invaders and the Cuban troops, in which the latter 
were repulsed; an attack was then made on the governor's 
palace, which was plundered, a large amount of money seized, 
and the governor taken pi-isoner. The invaders had counted 
npon accessions to their ranks from the Spanish army and from 
the disaffected inhabitants. In this, however, the}' were en- 
tirely disappointed, and Lopez re-embarked with a few of his 
companions, and made his escape to New Orleans, leaving the 
great body of his followers behind. These were taken piison- 
crs by the Cuban authorities, but were subsequently released 
upon a demand of the United States Government. Lopez was 
arrested upon his arrival in the United States on a charge of 
having violated the neutrality laws. 

An expedition fitted out b}' the government, at the expense of 
Mr. Henry Grinnell of New York, sailed from that city on the 
24th of May, for the arctic regions, in search of Sir John 
Franklin. It consisted of two ships under the command of 
Captain De Haven, and returned in October of the next year 
without accomplishing the object of the voyage. 

The number of inhabitants in Williamsburg, L. I., was 
estimated at thirty-one thousand. The first directory was pub- 
lished and a gas company organized. 

The cities of Nashville, Cliicago, and Lowell were lighted 
with gas. In Chicago a Board of Trade was established. 

The first establishment west of the Alleghanies for the manu- 
facture of copper and brass was started near Pittsburg. This 
was the first factory in the United States projected for work- 
ing American copper exclusively. 

F. B. Conway made his first appearance in America, at the 
Broadway Theatre in New York, on the 19th of August ; and 
at the same place, Madame Ponisi appeared in this country for 
the first time, on the 11th of November. On the 4th of the same 
month, Signorina Teresa Parodi commenced an engagement 
at the Astor Place 0])era House, in the same city. 

Jenny Lind arrived at New York on the 1st of September, 
amid great enthusiasm of the people, and demonstrations of 
welcome far exceeding any which had ever before greeted the 
arrival in America of any foreign songstress or actor. On the 
evening of her arrival she was serenaded by The New York 
]\Iusical Fund Society, numbering on that occasion two hun- 
dred musicians. On the 11th she made her first appearance on 
the stage in America at Castle Garden, and this concert was fol- 
lowed % five others. The number of jiersons present on each 
occasion exceeded seven thousand. The receipts on the first 
night were about thirty thousand dollars, and Jenny Lind im- 
mediately bestowed ten thousand upon several of the worthiest 
charities of the city. During the next nine months she gave 
ninety-three concerts in the principal cities of the Union and 



132 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

at Havana, •which produced receipts, as it was stated, of up- 
wards of seven hundred thousand dollars. 

The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was completed 
from Chicago to Elgin, 111., a distance forty-two miles. This 
. was the tirst road built from Chicago running in any direction, 
and the tirst one in the State. It was chartered in 1836, but 
its (Construction was not commenced, on accomit of the finan- 
cial situation of the comitiy, until the year 1847, at whicli time 
the first rail was laid. 

A fire occurred in Philadelphia on the 9th of July, destroy- 
ing property exceeding one million of dollars in value, 
causing a loss of thirty-five lives, and injuring about one hun- 
dred more persons. The area swept by the fire was one of the 
most densely populated in the city, occupied principally by 
poor people, who suffered greatly by the calamity. A fire 
destroyed about three hundred buildings and much valuable 
property in San Francisco, on the 14th of June. 

A new steamer, called the Anglo-Norman, left New Orleans 
on the 14th of December, on an experimental trip, having on 
board a large pleasure-party, consisting of two hundred anil 
ten persons. Soon after starting, all her boilers exploded, kill- 
ing and wounding nearly half the people on board. 
1851 Congress passed an act fixing the rates of postage on letters at 
three cents on single letters if prepaid, and five cents if not pre- 
paid, on all distances under three thousand miles, and double 
those rates over that distance. 

An act was passed authorizing the President to send a gov- 
ernment vessel to the Mediterranean to bring Kossuth, the Hun- 
garian general, and other exiles among his countrymen, to the 
United States. In September, the United States steamship 
Mississippi sailed from Constantinople through the Dardanelles 
to Kutaya, where Kos ulh and his comrades embarked. The 
ship proceeded to Marscilk^, but being refused a passage 
through France by the French Government, Kossuth remained 
on board the steamer until she reached Gibraltar. Having de- 
termined to make a hasty visit to England, he left the Ameri- 
can ship, and proceeded to Southampton in an English steamer. 
Having received a cordial welcome from the people of several 
parts of England, Kossuth embarked for the United States in 
the steamer Humboldt, and arrived in the harbor of New York 
on the 5th of December. He remainST in that city for some 
days as its guest, receiving great demonstrations of respect and 
sympath3^ His entry into the city was celebrated by a grand 
military and civic procession, amid a vast concourse of people 
assembled to welcome him. His address on the occasion was 
remarkable for its bold and dignified sentiments, and for the 
highest order of eloquence. On the 11th a banquet was given 
him bj^ the city council, and affei"wards various other enter- 
tainments were given him in the city, and deputations of 
citizens of different classes, and from various parts of the 
United States, waited on him with their welcome. From New 
York Kossuth proceeded to Washington, stopping on his way 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES, 133 

at Philadelphia and Baltimore, where he was welcomed as in 
New York. On the 81st he was presented to the President of 
the United States, ou which occasion he expressed his gratitude 
for himself, his associates, and his country, and for the encourage- 
ment and sympathy shown by our government for the Hunga- 
rian cause. Kossuth visited various sections of the Uuipn, and 
was received everywhere with demonstrations of welcome and 
enthusiasm for Iiimself and his cause. Kossuth at length re- 
turned to New York, whence he embarked for Ensrland, in 
July, 1852. 

Another invasion of Cuba, by four hundred and eighty men 
under General Lopez, took place on the 11th of August. Many 
of his followers were killed, and others taken prisoners and 
shot. Lopez himself was taken captive, and executed on the 
1st of September. 

Several attempts were made in the Northern States by agents 
of Southern slave-owners to seize their fugitive slaves. Some 
of the fugitives were rescued by force and others by subscrip- 
tions raised and paid for their freedom. 

Davenport, Iowa, was incorporated under a city charter. It 
contained, at this period, a population cf about two thousand. 

The Hudson River Raih-oad was completed between New 
York and Albany, and opened for travel on the 8th of Octo])er. 
The New York and Erie Railroad was completed in April, 
from Dunkirk, on Lake Erie, to Piermont, on the Hudson 
River. The formal celebration of the opening of the road took 
place ou the 14th of May, and among the distinguished guests 
who attended Avere the President of the United States and 
some members of his Cabinet. 

The Wabash and Erie Canal, connecting the Ohio River at 
Evansville, Ind., with Lake Erie, at Toledo, a distance of four 
hundred and sixty-seven miles, was completed. 

The first iron-fi'ont building in Indianapolis was erected 

The first number of the New York Times appeared on the 
18th of September. The first newspaper published in Minne- 
sota, outside of St. Paul, was issued during the last week in 
May, and called The St. Anthony Erprcsx. 

Lola Montes, the famous danseuse, made her first appearance 
on the stage in the United States, at the Broadway Theatre, in 
New York, on the 39th of December. Her world-renowned 
adventures had given her name a celebrity, which attracted 
great crowds in New York and the principal cities of the coun 
try where she visited. 

Crimes against property and the person had become so fre- 
quent in San Francisco, that munbers of the citizens formed 
dbemselves into a Vigilance Committee, and adopted measures 
for the punishment of crime more sure and summary than 
those furnished by the administration of law. 

A conflagration in San Francisco, on the 3d of May, destroyed 
a large part of the business portion of the city. Twenty-five 
hundred buildings were consumed, involving a lo.ss of three and 
a half millions of dollars. The custom-house, .seven hotels, 



134 HISTORY OF TIIK UNITED STATKS. 

and the post-office were among those burned. On the 22d of 
June another tire occurred at the same place, which destroyed 
live hundred buildings, involving a loss of three millions of 
dollars. 

In Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa, and along the whole course 
of the Upper Mississippi, great damage was done, in June, by 
an unusual and long-continued tlood of that river. Mam- 
towns of considerable size were quite overflowed. At St. Louis, 
during the greater part of that month, the levee was entirely 
submerged, and all the stores on Front Street filled with Ava 
ter to the depth of several feet. For a vast extent along the 
Mississippi, Missouri, and their tributaries, the bottom-lands 
were submerged for so long a time as to destroy the growing 
crops. 

A sad accident occurred in New York on the 27th of No- 
vember. In a large public school in the Ninth Ward one of 
the teachers was seized with paralysis. The circumstance 
alarmed her pupils, and their screams created a sudden panic 
throughout the whole school. Immense numbers rushed to 
the stairs, the banisters of which gave way, and the children 
fell one upon another, upon the stone floor below. Forty-three 
were killed by the catastroi^he. 

The steamer John Adams stnick a snag on the Ohio, on the 
27th of January, and sunk immediately, causing a loss of one 
hundred and twentj^-three lives, mostly emigrants. Upwards 
of ninetj' persons lost their lives by a boiler explosion on the 
steamer Brilliant, on the Mississippi, near Bayou Goula. About 
sixty persons were killed, scalded, or mutilated, by a boiler ex- 
plosion on the steamboat Oregon, near Island No. 82, on the 
Mississippi, on the 2d of March. 
1852 At the presidential election this year the candidates of the 
Democratic party were Franklin Pierce for Piesident, and 
William R. King for Vice-President, each of whom received 
two hundred and fifty-four electoral votes, and were elected. 
The Whig party nominated General Winfield Scott for Presi- 
dent, and William A. Graham for Vice-President, and they re- 
ceived forty -two electoral votes — those of four States only, \iz., 
Vermont, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The Free- 
Soil, or Anti-Slavery party, nominated John P. Hale for Presi- 
dent, and George W. Julian for Vice-President. A i^ortion of 
the abolitionists nominated as candidates~n.Villiam Goodell for 
President, and S. M. Piper for Vice-President. The slavery 
question was now growing into an important issue in national 
politics, and divisions existed in the two great political parties 
of the country upon that subject. While Democrats of I he 
Northern States were willing to consider the question of Ihe 
extension of slavery as settled, those of the South were divided 
into Avhat were called "Union men" and "Southern-rights 
men'"— the latter holding the doctrine of the right of a sove- 
reign State to secede from the Union whenever the rights of 
the State were violated by the action of the general govern- 
ment. This Southern-rights section comprised a large majority 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 135 

of the Democratic party in most of the slave-holding States. 
On the other hand, the great body of the Whigs at the South 
were Union men, and satisfied ^itli the measures of the last 
Congress. But, in the Northern States generally, the largest 
portion of the Whig party were dissatisfied with some of the 
compromise measures of Congress, although acquiescing in the 
same, and had on all suitable occasions, through their repre- 
sentatives in Congress and otherwise, opposed the extension of 
slavery in the Territories of the United States. The abolitionists, 
so called, were a distinct organization on the subject of anti- 
slavery, and composed of persons drawn from both the Demo- 
cratic and Whig parties. 

The number of the emigrants to Oregon, this year, was esti- 
mated at ten thousand. 

The East River between Xew York and Brooklyn was frozen 
over on the 20th of Januarj", and a stream of travellers crossed 
from one cit}^ to the other for a few hours in the forenoon. 

Williamsburg, L. I. , organized under a city charter, on the 
1st of January^ A ferrj^ was established between Greenpoint 
and New York. ^Manchester, N. II., was first lighted with gas 
in September, and Easton, Pa., in November. 

A system of telegi'aphic Qre-alarms was de\ased in Boston 
and adopted in that city. 

The manufacture of galvanized iron was first commenced in 
this country at Philadelphia, this year. 

The first working model of Wellman's self top-card stripjier 
was exhibited, and in the next year patented. It is stated that 
the average cost of stripping by hancl was three hundred dollars 
per annum, all of which was saved by this invention, which 
also saved from one eighth to one quarter of a cent per pound 
on the raw cotton. 

The lens system of illuminating the lighthouses on the Ameri- 
can coast was commenced, and it soon superseded the reflectors 
Avhich had been used exclusively since their introduction in 
1S13. 

Signora Alboni, considered the most distinguished contralto 
singer of this century, arrived in the United States in June, and 
for upwards of a year sang in operas, concerts, and oratorios in 
the principal cities with great success. 

The Michigan Southern Railroad from Monroe, Michigan, to 
Chicago, was completed and opened for travel on the 20th of 
February. This was the first road from the East that entered 
that city. The Michigan Central followed, and was opened 
the whole distance between Detroit and Chicago on the 21st of 
May. The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was opened for 
travel between Chicago and Joliet, a distance of forty miles, on 
the 18th of October. 

About three fourths of the city of Sacramento were destroyed 
by fire on the 2d of November. About forty blocks were 
burned over, consuming about twenty -five hundred buildings, 
and depriving of shelter nearly one half the inhabitants of the 



136 HISTORY OB^ THE UNITED STATES. 

city. Several lives weic lost, and the vahie of the property 
destroyed was estimated at over five millions of dollars. 

An unusual number of accidents occurred on the western 
waters this year. On the 3d of April, the steamboat Glencoe, 
from New Orleans, arrived at St. Louis, and had just been 
moored at the levee when three of her boilers burst, causing the 
death of more than eighty persons. The houses for several squares 
around appeared to reel under the force of the concussion. On 
the 2d of the same month, more than tAventy persons were 
killed on the steamboat Eedstone, bj' the explosion of its 
boilers, while on the Ohio Kiver, near Carollton. On the 9th 
of April, the steamer Saluda, bound for Council Bluffs, burst 
her boilers near Lexington, Mo., killing nearly one hundred 
persons, most of whom were women on their way to the Great 
Salt Lake. On the 5th of July, the steamboat St. James ex- 
ploded her boilers on Lake Ponchartrain, near New Orleans, 
while carrying a large number of passengers returning from 
the celebration of the previous day. More than forty li\es 
were lost hj this disaster. A flue of the steamboat Franklin 
collapsed when near St. Genevieve, on the Missis.sippi, on the 
22d of August, causing the loss of thirty-two persons. A 
catastrophe occurred on Lake Erie, before daylight, on the 
morning of the 20th of August, from a collision which oc- 
curred between the steam-propeller Ogdensburg and the 
steamer Atlantic. More than one hundred lives were lost by 
this disaster, the greater portion of them being Norwegian emi- 
grants, who were unable through their ignorance of the English 
language to avail themselves of the means of safety suggested. 

The burning of the steamboat Henry Clay, which occurred on 
the Hudson River on the 27th of July, probably caused greater 
excitement throughout the community than any otber disaster 
of the year, partly because of the criminal recklessness dis- 
played by the officers of the boat. The steamer left Albany in 
the morning with a large number of passengers for New York. 
During the greater part of her way down ; he ran a race with 
a rival boat, carrying an extraordinary head of steam, and be- 
coming so intensely heated by the large fires kept up that it be- 
came difficult to pass from one end of the steamer to the other. 
The pas.sengers remonstrated with the officers, but without 
effect. In the afternoon, when opposite Yonkers, the boat took 
fire, was run ashore, and it burned to thm^'ater's edge. Over 
seventy lives were lost by drowning and. the fiames. Another 
accident occurred on the "Hudson River about forty miles below 
Albany, on the 4th of September. The connection pipes of the 
steamer Reindeer burst, killing twenty- seven persons and scri 
ously injuring fifty more. 
1853 Franklin Pierce was inaugurated President of the L^nited 
States on the 4th of March, and William R. King took the oath 
of office as Vice-President. 

Congress passed an act erecting a new territory out of the 
northern part of Oregon, wiih the name of Washington Terri- 
tory. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 107 

A treaty was concluded between the United States and Mexi- 
co, by which a purchase was conchided by the former srovcrn- 
ment of that part of New Mexico called Arizona. 

Congress, in March, passed an act appropriating one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars to defray the expenses of the neces- 
sary survej's and explorations of different routes to deteiTiiine 
the most practicable line for a railroad to the Pacific. In ac- 
cordance with the act, four different parties were organized 
and sent out to make surveys of as many different routes. 
These parties were fitted out in the most complete manner, with 
a vieAv to collect all possible information relative to the physical 
characteristics of the region traversed, including its topograph}', 
its elevation above the sea, its climate, its geology, its botany, 
and its natural history, as well as all details bearing upon 
the actual construction of the road. In the next year Congress 
made additional apjaropriations, and three more exploring par- 
ties were organized for the same pui-poses. 

An expedition, consisting of four vcs.sels and a supply-ship, 
under the command of Captain Ringgold, sailed from Norfolk, 
Va., in June, to make a thorough exploration of proper routes 
to be pursued by our vessels between San Francisco and China, 
and of the whaling-gi-ounds of the Sea of Okhotsk and Behring's 
Straits. 

An expedition, fitted out at the joint expense of the govern- 
ment and Mr. Henr}^ Grinnell of New York, to continue the 
search for Sir John Franklin in the Arctic regions, sailed from 
that city on the 31st of May. It consisted of a single vessel, 
named the Advance, with a company of seventeen persons, un- 
der the command of Dr. Kane, and with provisions sufficient 
for two years, independent of what might be gained by hunt- 
ing. 

The New York Crystal Palace, erected by private enter- 
prise for a universal industrial exhibition, on Reservoir Square, 
at Sixth Avenue and Forty -second Street, in the citj- of New 
York, was formally opened on the 14th of July. The occasion 
was marked by the presence of the President of the United 
States and some of his Cabinet officers. 

The yellow-fever devastated New Orleans during the sum- 
mer months, and large contributions of money were raised in 
many of the Northern cities in aid of those rendered destitute bj- 
the scourge in that city. The mortality at times exceeded two 
hundred and fifty a day, and the total number of deaths from 
the disease was about seventy-two hixndred. The disease also 
raged in other Southern cities. One sixth of the total popula- 
tion of Vicksburg died of it, and about twelve hundred in jMo- 
bile. 

The Middlesex Canal, in Massachusetts, was abandoned, and 
its banks Avere soon afterward levelled, and parts of the channel 
filled up. The introduction of railroads ruined its business, 

Madame Sontag, one of the most renowned singers of Europe, 
made her first appearance on the stage in America at Niblo's 
Garden, in New York, on the 10th of January. She afterwards 



138 HISTORY OF THE UIS^ITED STATES. 

sang in the principal cities of this country, and then went to 
Mexico. Upon her return trip from that country she was at- 
tacked with cholera, and died at Vera Cruz in the next year. 

The celebrated Irish exile, John Mitchel, made his escape 
from Van Dicmen's Land, and reached New York, by way of 
San Francisco, on the 29th of November. He attended a pub- 
lic banquet on the 8th of December, given in his honor by the 
authorities of Brooklyn, and on the 19th was complimented by 
another from citizens of New York. 

The zinc-works at Bethlehem, Pa., went into operation on 
the 12th of October. 

The first locomotive constructed in Chicago was built this 
year. A company was also formed at that city for making 
cars. 

The first successful steam fire-engine constructed in this coun- 
try was completed early in the year at Cincinnati. A paid fire- 
company was organized in that city, and it was the first one es- 
tablished in this or any other country. 

The New York Clearing House, an association of fifty-two 
banks of the city of New York, went into operation on the 11th 
of October. 

The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, from Chicago to 
Freeport, 111., was completed its whole length, a distance of 
one hundred and twenty-one miles, and opened for travel on the 
4th of September. This road was subsequently absorbed in the 
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad system. The entire line 
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and that of the Boston, 
Concord and Montreal, and of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence, 
connecting Portland with Montreal, were completed this j'ear. 
The New York and Erie Railroad made its eastern terminus at 
Jersey City in November, instead of Piermont. The Albany 
and Schenectady, the Utica and Schenectady, the Syracuse and 
Utica, the Auburn and Syracuse, the Auburn and Rochester, 
the Tonawandn, and the Attica and Buffalo railroads, were all 
consolidated into one corporation, called The New York Cen- 
tral Railroad Company. 

The first telegraph-line in California was completed on the 
22d of September. It extended from San Francisco, eight 
miles, to a point nearer the sea, and was built to give early in- 
formation of shipping arrivals. A telegraph-line between San 
Francisco and Marysville, a distance of two hundred and six 
miles, went into operation on the 24th of October. 

The Brooklyn City Railroad Company, of Brooklyn, N. Y. , 
■was incorporated on the 17th of December. Cars commenced 
running for the first time on the 3d of July of the next year. 

A fire occurred on the 10th of December, in the building 
occupied by Harper Brothers, in New York, and destroyed 
property valued at over one million of dollars. All their build- 
ings, the machinery, and stereotype plates, excepting those 
stored in vaults under the sidewalks, were ruined. 

A collision took place between two trains at the crossing of 
the Michigan Central and Northern Indiana railroads, near 



HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES. 139 

Chicago, on the 23d of April, by which about twenty persons 
were killed outright and a large number injured. A sad disas- 
ter occurred on the New York and New Haven Railroad on the 
6th of May. A drawbridge of sixty feet in width, across the 
Norwalk River, was opened to admit the passage of a vessel. 
A train advancing at unusual speed, in broad daylight, rushed 
into the opening and was plunged into the water. Over fifty 
persons were killed, many of whom w'ere physicians returning 
from a convention held at New York. 

Public attention was engrossed at that time upon receiving 
intelligence of the loss of the steamship San Francisco, which 
was wrecked off the coast of South Carolina, in the latter part 
of December. The vessel was new- , and was on her lirst voj-- 
age at the time of the disaster. She sailed from New York on 
the 22d of December, with seven hundred persons on board, 
nearly five hundred and fiftj^ of whom were United States troops 
bound for California. On her third day out the ship encoun- 
tered a violent gale, and it soon became so fierce and the sea so 
heavy that the starboard paddle-box was stripped, her smoke- 
stacks carried away, and about one hundred and fifty of the 
troops and officers were washed overboard. The ship became 
utterly unmanageable, and drifted from day to day, until she 
came near the latitude of Boston, where the survivors were res- 
cued by passing vessels. Ne*arly two hundred lives were lost 
by the disaster. The steamer Independence was lost on the 
island of Margitu, off the coast of Lower California, on the 16th 
of February. She struck on a hidden rock, and received so 
much damage that it was found necessary to run her ashore ; 
in doing this the vessel took fire, and the passengers and crew 
were driven overboard into the surf. One hundred and twenty- 
nine persons were lost. On the 11th of April, thirty-one per- 
sons were killed by the bursting of a steam-pipe on the steam- 
ship Jenny Lind, while the vessel was on her passage from 
Alviso to San Francisco. Thirty-eight persons lost their lives 
by the burning of the steamer Ocean Wave, on Lake Ontario, 
the 20th of April. 
1854 In January, a bill was introduced in Congress which provided 
for the establishment of two Territories, one to be called Nebras- 
ka and the other Kansas, to consist of the vast tract of country 
stretching from the western borders of Missouri, Iowa, and 
Minnesota, to the Territories on the Pacific, and from the Brit- 
ish possessions on the north to the thirty-seventh parallel of 
north latitude on the south — almost twice as large in area as the 
thirteen original States. Bj- the bill, it was provided that the 
people in those new Territories were left free to decide the ques- 
tion for themselves, -^vhether they would ailow or prohibit sla- 
very within their domain ; b}' which provision, if passed, the 
Compromise Act of 1820-21, which provided that the institu- 
tion of slavery should be allowed in Missouri and be prohibited 
in all territory north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes 
north latitude, would be effectually repealed. The bill was 
finally passed after a protracted and violent debate of about four 



140 HISTORY OF THE U:NITED STATES. 

months, during which period the slavery question was aroused 
in all its strength and vigor in Congress and the country at 
large. The whole North became violently excited ; public 
meetings were held by men of all parties, and petitions and re- 
monstrances against the measure were poured into Congress 
while the debate on the subject was progressing. One of these 
petitions was signed by three thousand clergymen of New Eng- 
land. As soon as the bill became a law, there commenced a 
despei'ate struggle between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery peo- 
ple of the country for an immediate and complete supremacy 
in Kansas, the most southerly of the two territories, which lay 
directly west of Missouri, and for future domain in all the States 
that might be formed from it. To this end, emigration to Kan- 
sas from the free States was at once urged by the opponents of 
slavery, and on the 24th of July, an emigrant aid society was 
formed in Boston. This movement excited the friends of sla- 
very to vigorous action, and in Missouri combinations were at 
once formed to counteract it. Very soon great numbers com- 
menced tlowing into Kansas from the free States, and by Octo- 
ber several towns were founded by them. The Missouiians 
also went into the Territory and founded towns on the Missouri 
River. In October, Alexander H. Reeder, who had been ap- 
pointed governor by the President, arrived in Kansas. During 
the rest of the year much ill-feeling was engendered by disputes, 
boasts, and threats between the opposing parties in the Terri 
tory. 

An event occurred at a region of Nicaragua, on the Caribbean 
Sea, known as the Mosquito coast, which came near menacing 
the friendly relations existing between the British Government 
and the United States. The chief town on the coast was San 
Juan or Greytown. In the spring property belonging to Ameri- 
can citizens in the vicinity, it was alleged, had been .stolen and 
conveyed within the town. A demand was made on the au- 
thorities for its restoration ; it was refused, and the United States 
frigate Cyane having been sent there, bombarded, the town on 
the 13th of July. The commander of the British ship Bermuda, 
lying there, protested against the bombardment, and claimed that 
the place was under British protection. The act was denounced 
by the English press as an insult to Great Britain, but the gov- 
ernment did not consider the question of saliicient gravity to 
justify a disturbance of the friendly feelings of the two nations. 

Congress passed an act granting to a private company the 
right to establish telegraphic communication between the Mis- 
sissippi River and the Pacific Ocean, with a grant of a right 
of wa,y two hundred feet in width. 

In May, the feelings of the people of Boston were greatly 
agitated at the rendition in that city of a fugitive-slave named 
Anthony Burns, who was conducted to the ship that was to 
carry him back into slavery, under the guard of a large police 
and military force to prevent his rescue. Public meetings were 
held by the indignant inhabitants, and many of them draped 
their houses and stores in mourninc. 



HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES. 141, 

A copy of a treaty with Japan arrived at Wa-hinsiton by the 
way of Honolulu, San Francisco, and Panamu, on the 12tli of 
July, and was promptly ratified by the Senate. A certified 
copy of the ratified instrument was at once despatched to Japan 
by special messenger. The treaty was secured by Commodore 
Perry, who had been instructed bj' the United States Govern- 
ment to proceed to Japan with a large squadron which would 
command the respect of that empire, and he was invested with 
extraordinary powers, diplomatic as well as naval, to procure it. 
By its terms admission to Japan was allowed American citizens 
for pm-poses of trade, and depots of coal were permitted to be 
established there for our steamers crossing the Pacific. Com- 
modore Perry took his departure from Norfolk, Va., on this 
expedition the 24th of Novembei", 1852, in the United Slates 
steamer Mississippi, and was followed soon afterward by other 
ships, and their number was augmented by more vessels sta- 
tioned in Asiatic waters which joined the squadron on its arri- 
val there. 

The cholera visited Chicago and caused the death of over 
nine hundred of the inhabitants, in the month of July. There 
were six hundred and fifty of the inhabitants of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., who died of that disease during the summer. 

Much excitement prevailed in San Francisco upon the dis- 
covery of forgeries of the city comptroller's warrants of more 
than one million of dollars which had been committed by Henry 
3Ieigs, who had absconded the country. 

In February the water-works constructed by the city of 
Chicago were completed, and consisted of a timber crib built 
out into the lake six hundred feet from the shore, thi-ough 
which the water ran into a well, whence it was pumped up to 
the top of a cast-iron column one hundred and forty feet high , 
and thence conducted to reservoirs, capable of holding a nights 
supply, established in each of the three divisions of the city. 
Water was also supplied this j'ear to the inhabitants of Jersey 
City, and of Nashua, N. H. 

Si^cramento was made the capital of California by an act of 
the State Legislature. 

The first spelter made from Lehigh ores was produced this 
year at Bethlehem, Pa. 

Guilia Grisi and Signor Mario commenced a season of oper- 
atic performances at Castle Garden, in New York, on the 4th 
of September. On the 2d of October, the New York Academy 
of Music on Fourteenth Street was first opened to the public, 
on which occasion Grisi and Mario appeared there in the opera 
of Norma. 

The Great Western Railroad of Canada was completed and 
opened for travel on the 17th of January, affording communica- 
tion between Detroit and Niagara Falls. In February the 
Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was completed from Chicago 
to the Mississippi, a distance of one hundred and eighy-two 
miles. The Illinois Central Railroad, extending from Cairo, at 
the mouth of the Ohio River, to Dunleith, in the extreme north 



142 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

western corner of the State, and from Centralia, one liundrcd 
and twelve miles above Cairo, to Chicago, a total length of road 
of seven hundred and four miles, was also completed. The con- 
struction of this road was undertaken prior to the financial 
crisis of 1837, and about three and one half millions of dollars 
spent on it ; but then bankruptcy prostrated the State, and work 
on the road was stopped. The road remained in that condition 
until the year 1851, when, with the aid of a valuable land- 
grant, it was pushed on to completion. 

The initial steps i i transatlantic telegraphic communica 
lion w^ere made this year. Mr. Cyrus W, Field, of New York, 
having been applied to for aid to complete a telegrai^hic lino' 
between St. John's and Cape Ray, across the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence, which had been commenced, while investigating the sub- 
ject considered the practicability of establishing telegraphic 
communication between Europe and America by a submarine 
cable stretching from Newfoundland to Ireland. Believing in 
the success of the project, he obtained in the early part of this 
year a charter from the Legislature of Newfoundland, granting 
an exclusive right for tif ty years to establish a telegraph from the 
continent of America to Newfoundland, and thence to Europe. 
He now looked about him for coadjutors in the work. The first 
interested was Mr. Peter Cooper, the next Mr. Moses Taylor, 
and then Mr. Marshall O. Roberts and Chandler White, all 
wealthy capitalists of New York. On the 8th of May, these 
five gentlemen met and organized a company und^r the name of 
the "New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegi'aph Com- 
pany," and subscribed a million and a lialf of dollars with 
which to begin the undertaking. Mr. Field thenceforth devoted 
himself almost exclusivelj^ to fhe execution of this project. 

The steamer Arctic, during her return voyage from Liverpool, 
was struck by the Vesta, an iron propeller, on the 27th of Sep- 
tember, about sixty-five miles from Cape Race, a few feet for- 
ward of her paddle-boxes, and was so seriously injured that in 
about three hours she tilled with water and went down stern foi-e- 
most, engulfing in her ruin all her passengers but about twenty- 
five and some of her crew. She was running through a dense fog 
at the time, and w^hen the collision first occurred the shock was 
so slight that any serious injury to her hull was not appre- 
hended. Of the more than four hundred jiersous "who left 
Liverpool, many of whom were returning from a European 
tour of pleasure, less than fifty were saved. 

A terrific tornado struck Louisville on the 27th of August, 
causing great damage. A church was demolished while the 
congregation were at worship, and tvventy-fi\e persons weic 
killed and sixty-seven injured, many seriously. 

There were throughout the countiy this year, one hundred 
and ninety-three railroad accidents, killing one hundred and 
eighty-six persons and wounding five hundred and eighty-nine; 
there were forty-eight steamboat accidents, in which five hun- 
dred and eighty-seven persons -were killed, and two himdred 
and twenty-five wounded. There were also one hundred and 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 143 

seventy lives lost by means of eighty-tbree tires, and the total 
loss of property by tire was twenty -tive millions of dollars. 
1855 Confusion and anarcliy still prevailed in Kansas. Early in 
the autumn, and while the exasperation of both parties in "that 
Territory was at its height, the Free-State men held a convention, 
and nominated Governor Reeder, who had been removed from 
office in July, as a delegate to Congress, in place of General 
Whitetield, who, it was alleged, had been chosen at a previous 
election, not by the votes of actual settlers, but by those of 
people from Missouri. Reeder was elected in October, and 
when in February following Whittield was admitted provision- 
all}' to a seat in the House of Representatives, he contested it 
Avith him. In the mean while violence reigned in Kansas. On 
the 1st of December. Governor Shannon telegraphed the Presi- 
dent for United States forces to preserve the peace of the terri- 
tory ; stating that an armed force of one thousand insurgents 
was at Leavenworth ; that a prisoner had been rescued from 
the sheriff, houses burned, and the lives of citizens were threat- 
ened. 

About this time public attention was largely dii-ccted to an 
emigrating expedition to a portion of the territory of the Mos- 
quito coast. Two British subjects claimed to have obtained a 
grant of that territory from the idng of the ]\rosquito Indians, and 
under that grant Colonel H. L. Kinney fitted out an expedi- 
tion to settle upon and improve the lands. As the Government 
of Nicaragua claimed jurisdiction over the whole Mosquito 
country, it protested against this emigration scheme as a viola- 
tion of the neutrality laws of the United States. The President 
of the United States being convinced that this movement in- 
volved more than emigration for settlements, caused the an-est in 
June of Colonel Kinney on a charge of violating the neutrality 
laws. He was admitted to bail, and proceeding secretly to Nicara- 
gua with a few followers, he soon after published a card, calling 
upon those who had enlisted to join him as soon as possible, by 
Avliaiever conveyance they might obtain. In the mean while 
the Government of Nicaragua had issued a decree prohibiting 
Kinney and his companions from entering the territory, and 
directing them to be immediately seized and conducted to the 
seat of government. Another phase of the emigration scheme 
was now developed. Colonel William Walker, who with a 
few followers had invaded Sonera from California the y^ar 
before, was invited by Kinney to join him in improving his 
grant on Lake Nicaragua. "Walker left San Francisco in 
August, with three hundred armed men, ostensibly to join 
Kinney, but really to invade Nicaragua. Taking advantage of 
revolutionary movements in that distracted State, he was suc- 
cessful, and in October marched upon and captured Granada, 
its capital. He established a Nicaraguan as President, and pro- 
ceeded to strengthen his government, which was recognized by 
the British consul, and favorablj' regarded by the resident min- 
ister of the United States. The new government asserted its 
claim to the Mosquito territory, and Colonel Kinnej', who had 



144 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

been elected its governor by the white inhabitants, v/as arrested 
on a charge of treasonable practices, and ordered to leave the 
country. 

The settlers in Oregon and Washington Territory v;ere much 
disturbed by depredations of the Indians, and many of the in- 
habitants were murdered. Major Haller, while on an explor- 
ing expedition, was, with his company, surrounded by a body of 
Indians, in Yakima County, Oregon, and kept without food or 
water for several days. Keinforcements were sent to his aid, 
but before they reached him, as his position was becoming des- 
perate, his troops fought for fifty hours against an overwhelm- 
ing force of savages. They then charged through the horde, 
sustaining a loss of one fifth of the company, and all the 
animals, provisions, and camp equipage belonging to the expe- 
dition. A general uprising of the Indians now took place ; 
whole families were massacred, and the utmost consternation 
was felt in un])rotected parts of the country. General Wool 
was dispatched from San Francisco to Oregon to organize a 
movement against the savages. 

General Kearney attacked a camp of Sioux Indians in Ne- 
braska, and killed eighty-six, and captured seventy of them. 

An expedition, consisting of the bark Release, and the steam 
propeller Arctic, under the command of Lieutenant Hartstein 
of the United States Navy, set sail on the 31st of May, in search 
of Dr. Kane and bis associates, who were supposed to be ice- 
bound in the Northern seas. On the 11th of October the ex- 
pedition returned, bringing Dr. Kane and the entire party, with 
the exception of three, who had died. Dr. Kane sailed from 
New York on the 31st of May, 1853. On the 12th of September 
his party were frozen in on the coast of Greenland at the most 
northerly point ever reached. Here tliey passed the winter. 
The next summer was spent in exploring the shores, their vessel 
remaining all the while fast in the ice. The winter of 1854-55, 
was of unexampled severity, and their stock of fuel was ex- 
hausted. In May, it was decided to abandon the vessel and 
return home. They set out in open boats, and reached the 
Danish settlements on the 6th of August, having performed a 
journey of thirteen hundred miles in eighty-one days. Here 
tliej' were on the point of taking passage for England, when 
they were fallen in with by the expedition sent for their 
relief. ~ 

The winter of this year was one of great distress among the 
poor of New York. Work was scarce and laborers were 
plenty. Thousands of suffering men gathered in the City Hall 
Park and elsewhere, and proclaimed their destitution, or pa 
raded the streets -with bnnners and mottoes appealing for aid. 
Measures for relieving the needy were devised both by private 
individuals and the nuuiicipal authorities ; relief associations 
were formed ; soup-kitchens were established, and a system of 
visitation was organized. In one ward of the city and in one 
day in the month of January, nine thousand persons were fed 
by public charity. 



HISTORY OF THB UNITED STATES. 145 

The yellow-fever luvaged the cities of Norfolk and Ports- 
mouth, Va., in the summer. Soon after its arrival at Norfoll^ 
a panic seized the citizens, and as many took refuge in flight as 
were able to do so. The population of sixteen tiiousand was 
reduced within a short time to tive thousand, and that of Ports- 
mouth from eleven to four thousand. Portsmouth was speedi- 
ly almost deserted. Whole streets had only two or three fami- 
lies remaining. Hotels and stores, and even drug-shops, were 
closed; the great thoroughfares were empty; grass grew up be- 
'tween the bricks, and weeds over the roadside. The entire 
duration of the epidemic was one hundi-ed and thirty-seven 
days, during which period the mortality in the two cities was 
about four thousand — almost one half the number of those who 
had not fled. 

The cholera attacked the passengers on the Pacific steamer 
Uncle Sam, while on her passage from San Juan to San Fran- 
cisco, in the early part of September, destroying one hundred 
and eleven persons, besides those who died in hospital after 
their arrival in port. The .same disease appeared on the steamer 
Sierra Nevada of the Nicaragua line, which left New York on 
the 5th of September, and carried off ninety-five of her pas- 
sengers. 

A financial revulsion occurred in San Francisco, creating a 
panic, and causing the failure, among others, of two of the 
most eminent of the Ijanking houses krgely engaged in the 
transaction of business between San Francisco and the Atlantic 
States. 

Castle Garden, in New York, ceased as a theatre, and was 
transformed into a depot for the reception of emigrants. It 
was formerly named Castle Clinton, and was granted to the 
city of New York in 1790. After the war of 1813, it being no 
longer needed for military purposes, it was used as a place of 
amusement, and continued as such until this period, when it be- 
came too distant from the resident jiart of the city from the 
continual removal of families to up-town streets. 

Mdlle. Rachel, the eminent tragedienne, made her flx-st ap- 
pearance on the stage in this country, on the 3d of September, 
at the Metropolitan Theatre, in New York. The operatic com- 
pany, composed in part of the popular singers Brignoli, 
Araodio, Rocco, Quinto, and Signorinas Vestvali and Steffone, 
appeared at the New York Academy of Music. 

The banks of Boston established a Clearing-house Association 
similar to the one formed in New York in 1853. 

The first bridge of anj^ kind erectetl across the Mississippi 
River was completed in January, at Minneapolis, Minn. 

The suspension-bridge across the Niagara River, two miles 
below the Falls, was completed in March. Operations were 
commenced in its construction in 1853, and in 1854 the lower 
floor was opened for travel. 

The first Hebrew temple in the Mississippi Valley was con- 
secrated at St. Louis on the 7th of September. 

On January 1st, the cities of Brooklyn and Williamsburg, 



146 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

and the township of Bushwick, were cousolidattMl under the 
name of Brooklyn, with a population of two handled and tive 
thousand inhabitants. The first city directory of Indianapolis 
was issued this year, and the system of numbering the houses 
commenced. 

An attempt made in August to lay the submarine cable 
across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a distance of sixtj^ miles, as 
the initiatory step in ocean-telegraph enterprise, resulted in 
failure. The cable was made in England, and on the 24th of 
August, one end of it was fastened on the shore at Cape Ray, 
and a steamer towed the bark which had the cable on board out 
to sea. The labor of paying it out was successfully prosecuted 
for over thirty hours, but at the end of that time a very heavy 
gale arose, w-hich threatened the vessel with destruction, broke 
two of the three copper ^vires of which the cable was com- 
posed, and rendered the situation of the vessel so exceedingly 
hazardous that no alternative was left but to cut the cable and 
abandon the undertaking. This was accordingly done, and 
forty miles of the cable were sunk in the sea. 

An excursion train consisting of eleven cars left St. Louis on 
the 1st of November, to celebrate the opening of the Pacific 
Railroad of Missouri, at Jefferson City. While the train was 
crossing a bridge, about one hundred miles from St. Louis, the 
structure fell, precipitating the cars a distance of thirty feet 
into the water, by which disaster twenty persons were killed 
and forty badly wounded. Twenty-one persons were killed 
and a still larger number injured by a train being thrown from 
the track on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, on the 29th of 
August. Thii'ty-five persons lost their lives by the explosion 
of the boilers belonging to the steamboat Lexington, on the 
Ohio River, about ninety miles beloA\' Louisville. 
1856 Violence and bloodshed continued to prevail in Kansas. On 
the 11th of February the President issued a proclamation, 
stating that combinations within the Territory had been formed 
to resist the laws, and that persons without the Territory con 
templated armed intervention in its affairs, and declaring that 
the execution of such plans from within would constitute insur- 
rection, and from without invasion. He concluded by ordering 
all such persons to disperse immediately. The accounts from 
Kansas continuing to be alarming and vei:yLcpntradictory, the 
House of Representatives, o:i the 19th of Maich, appointed a 
committee to i?roceed thither to investigate the a^ hole matter, 
and report. They returned to Washington in June, and on the 
1st of July the majority of the committee presented their re- 
port, in which was stated that each election in the Territory had 
been carried by organized invasions from the State of Missouri, 
by which the people of the Territory had been prevented from 
exercising the rights secured to them by the organic law; thai 
the alleged Territorial legislature was an illegally constituted 
body, and had no power to pass valid laws, and their enact- 
ments were therefore null and void; that those laws had 
not, as a general thing, been used to protect persons and 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 147 

pro])erty, and to punish wrong, but for unlawful purposes; 
that the election of General Whitefield to a seat in Congress 
was not lield in pursuance of any valid law; that the election 
of the contesting delegate, Mr. Reeder, was also invalid; 
that in the existing condition of the Territory a fair elec- 
tion could not be held without a new census, a stringent and 
well-guarded election law, the selection of impartial judges, 
and the presence of United States troops at every place of elec- 
lion. A minority report of the committee declared the state- 
ments of the majority to be in many cases untrue; and so, after 
a long investigation, both political parties in the Territory and 
throughout the country were dissatisfied with the result. 

Kansas aifairs not only claimed the direct action of Congress, 
but were the exciting cause of warm debates. On one of these 
occasions an event occurred which created a profound sensation 
throughout the Union and attracted attention aod remark 
abroad. In the Senate, on the 20th of May, Mr. Sumner of 
Massachusetts, in the course of a long speech on the subject of 
Kansas affairs, commented with much asperity upon the course 
pursued by Senator Butler of South Carolina, and others. 
After the adjournment of the Senate, on the 22d, Mr. Sumner 
remained at his desk engaged in writing. While so engaged, 
Preston S. Brooks, a member of the House of Representatives, 
and a nephew of Senator Butler, accosted Mr. Sumner and com- 
menced beating him with a heavj' cane. Mr. Sumner was so 
much injured, that for many days his life was in great peril, 
and he was not able to attend to his duties in the Senate during 
that and the succeeding session, and it was four years before he 
was pronounced convalescent. The House of Representatives 
voted on a motion to expel Mr. Brooks, but not receiving the 
requisite two-thirds majority, it failed to pass. Mr. Brooks im- 
mediately resigned his seat, but was soon re-elected by his con- 
stituents without opposition. 

At the presidential election of this year, the question of the 
extension of slavery into Territories already free, assumed a 
form and dimensions sufficient to overshadow all other national 
topics, and under its intiuence new political organizations had 
grown up. For more than a year previous to the election, a 
new party, composed of men of all political creeds, united in 
opposition to the extension of slavery, had been gathering force 
and bulk, and assumed great proportions when the election oc- 
curred. This was named the Republican party. Another and 
much older organization, at tirst secret in its operations, and 
known as the American, or Know-Nothing party, had become 
a great political power in the country, its chief bond of union 
being opposition to foreign influence and interference in our 
domestic concerns, and the domination of Roman Catholicism 
in our political affairs. The old Democratic party, dating its 
organization at the election of President Jackson, in 1828, still 
possessed its prestige and power, but had become divided and 
weakened by internal feuds and outside pressure, while the old 
Whig party was virtually annihilated as a distinct organization 



148 HISTORY OF THE UXiTKD STATES. 

having vitality. The candidates of the Democratic party were 
James Buchanan for President, and John C. Breckinridge for 
Vice-President, and they were elected, each receiving one hun- 
dred and seventy-foul' electoral votes. John C. Fremont for 
President, and William L. Dayton for Vice-President, received 
one himdred and fourteen electoi al votes from the Republicans. 
The American party nominated Millard Fillmore for President, 
and Andrew J. Donclson for Vice-President, and carried the 
electoral vote of Maryland. 

Congi'ess made grants of public lands in Florida, Alabama, 
Mississippi, Louisiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, to aid in con- 
structing railroads in those States. Each allernate section, six 
sections wide, on each side of the roads, were granted, and the 
remaining sections belonging to the United States were not to 
be sold for less than double the usual price, and before being 
sold to indi\idunls they should be offered for sale at public 
auction at the enhanced price. 

Indian hostilities continued in Oregon and Washington Ter- 
ritory. On the 25th of March, about eight hundred Indians 
attacked Cascades, in Oregon, and burned every building in 
the town, and killed numbers of the citizens; they also de- 
stroyed the steamer Mary. In the neighborhood of Vancouver 
they burned and laid waste the whole country. A fight took 
place in Washington Territory, on the 10th of March, between 
the volunteers and the Indians, in which more than twenty-five 
of the savages were killed. 

The schemes of Walker in Nicaragua continued to attract 
public attention in this country. During the winter, an alli- 
ance of the Central American States was formed against Walk- 
er, and hostilities v.ere instituted, which lasted all this year and 
until the following spring, when he was compelled to abandon 
the countiy. 

Baltimore was subjected to riot and lawlessness in the au- 
tumn. On the 12th of September the 17th Ward House, on 
Light Street, was attacked by the " Rip-Rap" ard " Wampan- 
vag" clubs, and, in the affray which ensued, one man was 
killed and some twenty men badly wounded. The streets 
where the contest took place presented^ the appearance as if 
cart-loads of bricks had been strewed about. On the 8th of 
October, a desperate struggle took place between the " Rip- 
Rap" club and the New Market Fire Compauy, which was a 
bloody and protracted battle. A great many persons were 
wounded and earned from the ground, and the drug shops near 
the scene of action were filled with the wounded and dying. 
At the election, on the 4th of November, a prolonged and des- 
perate fight took place between some Democrats and Know- 
nothings. Armed and organized associations belonging to both 
political parties resorted to fire-arms, with which they were liber- 
ally provided . Individual combats and minor atf rays occurred at 
a number of polls, but the most serious took place in the \icin 
ity of the Second and Eighth wards, where eight persons 
were killed and about one hundred and fifty wounded. 



HISTORY OF THE U>'ITED STATES. 149 

Very serious disturbances toolf place in the month of May, in 
San Francisco. The immediate occasion was the iiuu'der of 
James King, the editor of the San Francisco Bulletin, liy Jame^ 
P. Casey, editor of the Sunday Times. Casey, who had been 
an inmate of the State Prison at Sing Sing, X. Y., became 
somewhat prominent as a politician on his arrival in Califor- 
nia. Mr. King in his paper referred to this, and charged Ca- 
sey with having fraudulently procured his election to office. 
On the 14th of May, Casey shot Mr. King in the street ; an in- 
tense excitement was at once aroused, w'hich resulted in the or- 
ganization of a VigUauce Committee. Thousands of the k iding 
citizens armed and enrolled themselves on this Committee la 
two or three dajs the organization was complete, when they 
proceeded to the prison where Casey was conlired and com- 
pelled the officers to siu-render him, together with a notorious 
gambler and murderer, who had escaped punishment by a disa 
greement of the jury who tried him. The two malefactoi-s 
were tried by the Committee, found guilty, and executed on the 
open street. The Committee now determined to deal with the 
desperadoes and bullies who infested the city, and had acquired 
a controlling influence in the elections. Some were warned 
to leave and others anested and contined for trial. The oppo 
Dents of the Committee held a mass-meeting on the 2d of 
June, but the sentiment of the communitj- appeared to be ad- 
verse to them. The Governor of the State issued a proclama- 
tion calling out the militia to suppress the illegal action of the 
Committee, but it was faintly responded to, while the forces at 
the disposal of the Committee were largely increased. Their 
rooms were converted into a fortress, and a regular .system of 
vigilance was established. They finally succeeded in their ef- 
forts for establishing peace and justice in the city, and disband- 
ed on the 18th of August, on which occasion more than five 
thousand of their adherents marched in parade iu celebration of 
the event. 

The cold weather was ver}- .severe at New York early in Feb- 
ruary, and on the 10th the East River was bridged over h\ ice 
and streams of people crossed over. 

The community w^as startled early in the year by the discov- 
ery of forgeries to an immense amount, committed hy Charles 
B. Huntington, of New York. The forged paper was used 
mainly as collateral security for the purpose of raising money, 
and was for a considerable time redeemed before maturity. The 
counsel of the forger, on the trial, in his defence set up the plea 
of moral insanity, and stated that the aggregate amount of the 
forgeries was fifteen to twenty millions of dollars. 

The railroad bridge, fifteen hundred and eight5'-two feet in 
length, crossing the Mississippi at Rock Island, 111., was com- 
pleted this year. 

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Raili'oad, extending 
from Chicago to the Mississippi ; The Chicago and Fort 
Wayne, from Chicago to Fort Wayne ; the extension in Iowa 
of the Chicago and Rock Island, from the Mississippi to Iowa 



150 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

City ; the Penobscot and Kennebec, between Bangor and Wa 
tervi]le— were all completed this year. The tirst railroad in 
California, that from Sacramento to Folsom, twenty-two and a 
half miles in length, was opened for travel on the 22d of Feb- 
ruary. 

The lirst street-railway in New England was the Cam 
bridge Railroad, constructed in the streets of Boston and Cam- 
bridge, and it was opened for travel on the 26th of Marcli. 
Street-railways, at this period, were considered so much of an 
experiment, that the originators of this road ex]3erienced great 
difficulty in obtaining subscriptions to its stock and bonds, and 
the contractors themselves were obliged to take nearly the 
whole amount. 

The first passage of a vessel to Europe, through the great 
lakes, was this year made direct from Milwaukee bj^ means of 
the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence River. 

On the 17th of March, Mis« Adelaide Phillips made her de- 
but in opera at the Academy of Music, New York, in the char- 
acter of Azucena, in " II Trovatore." 

The introduction of sorghum or Chinese sugar-cane, into the 
United Slates, was made this year. The Patent-office Depart- 
ment at Washington obtained some seeds from France, and 
Mr. Orange Judd imported one thousand barrels of the seed 
for distribution among the patrons of his newspaper. 

The first manufacture of condensed milk, in this country, 
was commenced in Litchfield County, Conn. 

The tirst experiments with the Bessemer process for the jn-o- 
duction of steel, were made at the Phillipsburg furnace, in War- 
ren County, N. J. The iron used was obtained from a mine 
in Sussex County, which was opened before the Revolu- 
tion, and during it was taken possession of by the government, 
the owners being principally Tories. After the war the mine 
was abandoned until the year 1847. 

The first wooden pavement in Chicago was laid on Wells 
Street, of about eight hundred square yards, and proved a suc- 
cess. 

The old and memorable Charter Oak, at Hartford, was 
blown dowai early in the morning of the 21st of August. 
Crowals of citizens visited the place, and carried away memen- 
toes of the venerable tree. A dirge was played at noon, and 
the bells of the city were tolled at sundown. 

A submarine cable from the mainland to Nantucket was suc- 
cessfully laid on the 21st of August. 

The passengers who left New York, in April, for California, 
by the way of Nicaragua, suffered severely in the passage. 
Thej^ fountl the transit across the Isthmus closed, but about 
three hundred of them determined to push on. At Granada 
they Avere detained a month, during which time seventy-nine 
died. Proceeding, at length, across the lake, a number more 
perished. The survivors leached San Juan del Sur, and em- 
barked on board the steamer for San Francisco. Sickness 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 151 

broke out amono: them, and thirty-three died on the passage. 
Xearly one half died between Granada and San Francisco. 

Last Island, a summer resort in the Gulf of Mexico, was 
struck by a terrific storm in August, which raged three days. 
The island was entirely submerged, and every house destroyed, 
involving the loss of about three hundred persons, who were 
drowned. 

The French steamer Le Lyonnais, which left New York on 
the 30th of October, was run into b)- a sailing-vessel on the 
ni'i^ht of the 2d of November, and foundered. The sailing-ves- 
sel was lost sight of at once, and it was supposed she sunk. The 
passengers and crew, numbering one hundred and thirty-two 
persons, betook themselves to the boats and a raft which was 
hastily constructed. One of the boats was picked up four days 
after ; it had contained eighteen persons, but two of them froze 
to death. Vessels were at once despatched for the missing boats 
and raft, but without success, and it Avas presumed all their pas- 
sengers were lost. 

The .'• tlantic steamer Pacilic left Liverpool for New York 
on the 2;M of January, with forty-tive passengers and one hun- 
dred and forty-one otiicers and crew, and she was never heard 
from. The American ship Ocean Wave, on her voyage from 
Rotterdam to New York, came in collision with a British vessel 
and sunk in a few minutes, carrying down seventy-seven per- 
sons, mostly German emigrants. On the 20th of February, the 
packet -ship John Rutlcdge was struck by an iceberg and went 
down. The passengers and crew numbered one hundred and 
lif ty-six persons, who took io tlie boats. One of these was picked 
up on the 28th, but of the thirteen persons who went on board 
the only survivor was a young sailor ; the others had died under 
their privations and suliVrings. The other boats Avere never 
heard from. There was a large number of railroad and other 
disasters in the month of July, by which one hundred and sev- 
enty persons were killed, and as many more seriously injured. 
A wharf at the foot of Reed Street, Philadelphia, gave way on 
the 7th, and more than a hundred persons were preci|)itated into 
the water, between twenty ;:nd thirty of whom Avere droAvned. 
An excursion-train, tilled with the scholors and teachers of St. 
Michaels Church, left Philadelphia by the North Pennsyhama 
Railroad on the 16th, and came in collision Avith a regular down 
train, both running at great speed. FiA^e cars of the excursion- 
train were shivered into fragments, and were set on fire from 
the engines. Many of those Avho were imprisoned by the wreck 
were burned to death, and still a larger number were killed out- 
right or dreadfullA' Avounded by the collision. The total loss of 
life was not less than sixty. On the 17tb, the Lake Erie steamer 
Northern Indiana caught tire while on her passage from Buffalo 
to Toledo, and in a few moments was burned to the water's edge. 
In attempting to launch the life- boat, which was tilled with pas- 
sengers, the cranes gave way and all the occupants were plunged 
into the Avater. A large number of the passengers who had 
leaped into the Avater to escape the flames Avere drowned ; the 



152 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

total loss of life Avas about fort}'. The gales in the autumn upon 
the gi'cat lakes were unusually severe, occasioning great loss of 
life and destruction of property. Forty-nine vessels, of which 
seventeen were steamers, were wrecked, involving a loss of 
more than two hundred lives. The most disastrous of these 
casualties was that of the steamer Superior, which went on 
.shore near the Pictured Rocks, on Lake Superior. Out of fifty 
persons on board only sixteen were saved. On the 24th of Sep- 
tember, the steamboat Niagara was burned on Lake ]Michigan, 
and from fifty to sixty lives were lost. The steam ferry-boat 
New Jersey, while running from Philadelphia to Camden on 
the 15th of March, took tire and became mimanageable ; about 
fifty lives were lost b}^ the disaster. 
1857 James Buchanan was inaugurated President on the 4th of 
March, and Vice-President John C. Breckinridge took the oath 
of office. 

Congress passed an act entitled the Atlantic Telegraph Bill, 
in aid of a company formed for the purpose of establishing a 
telegraphic communication between our continent and Great 
Britain. It provided that the sum of seventy thousand dollars 
per annum might be paid to the company for the transmission 
of government messages, mitil the net profits reached six per 
cent per annum, after which it should not exceed fifty thousand 
dollars, the tariff of prices to be fixed by the Secretary of the 
Treasury and the British Government. The bill also provided 
that the citizens and the Government of the United States should 
be put on an equal footing with those of Great Britain, and that 
Congress might at the expiration of ten years terminate the con- 
tract by giving one year's notice. 

Congress passed a bill in February, directing that Spanish 
quarters, eighths, and sixteenths of a dollar should only be re 
ceived by public officers at the rate of twenty, ten, and five 
cents, and that they should not be paid out, but sent to 
the Mint. The object was to drive those worn-out coins from 
circulation. Provision was also made for the coinage of a new- 
cent, much smaller than the one in use, to be composed of 
eighty parts of copper and twelve of nickel. 

A case which had attracted great interest throughout the 
country was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States 
in March. A slave named Dred Scott, who was taken by his 
master from Missouri to Illinois, wherfTbe remained two years, 
and then taken back to Missouri, sued for his freedom, on the 
ground that since Illinois by its constitution prohibited slavery, 
by his being domiciled in that State he became free ; and if he 
became free in that State he continued free, since there was no 
law in force to remand him to slavery. The majority of the 
court decided that every person, and every class and dcs'cription 
of persons, who were at the time of the adoption of the consti- 
tution recognized as the citizens of the several States, became 
also citizens of the new political body, but none other ; it was 
formeil by them and for them and their posterity, but for uo 
one else ; the legislation and histories of the times, and the Ian- 



HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES, 15.? 

guage used in the Declaration of Independence, showed that 
neither the chiss of persons who had been imported as slaves, 
nor their descendants, whether they became free or not, were 
then acknowledged as a part of the people nor intended to be 
included in the general words used in that memorable instru- 
ment ; that they had for more than a century been regarded as 
beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with 
the white race, either in moral or political relations ; and so far 
inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound 
to respect ; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be 
reduced to slavery for his benefit. Two of the judges dissented 
from that opinion. 

In September, an emigrant party arrived at Mountain Mead- 
ow, about three hundred miles south-east of Salt Lake City in 
Utah, and camped at the south end of the valley. They had 
thirty wagons and several hundred head of cattle. For several 
days they were attacked by whites and Indians, until a treaty 
was made by which they wei'e permitted to return to Cedar City, 
but were compelled to give up their property. After the latter 
had been complied with the treaty was basely broken, and of 
the emigrants, one hundred and twenty men, women, and 
children were massacred. 

Early in January, the Mormon dignitaries went to the offices 
of one of the United States Judges at Salt Lake City, seized 
all the books, papers, and documents belonging to the court, 
and burned them, upon the plea that as Congress would not 
admit Utah into the Union, they would not allow the officers 
of the government to remain in the Territory. For that 
circumstance, and for the reason that numerous depredations 
and outrages had been committed upon travellers in Utah said 
to have been instigated by the Mormons, and that persons 
arrested for crime could not be convicted by Mormon juries, the 
President despatched about six thousand United States troops 
to Utah to compel the Mormons to respect the laws of the 
Government. Upon receiving intelligence of this, Brigham 
Young prepared to resist, and issued a proclamation forbidding 
all bodies of armed men from entering the Territory under any 
pretext whatever. Meanwhile the grand jury of the United 
States Court brought in bills of indictment for high-treason 
against Brigham Young, and nineteen others specifically named, 
besides a great number of persons whose names were not known 
to the jury. The difficulties were, however, settled in the next 
year without bloodshed, the Mormons consenting to the de- 
mands of the government, and their leaders were pardoned. 

The first attempt to lay the Atlantic cable was made in 
August. Four vessels composed the expedition, two of them 
the Niagara and the Agamemnon, containing the cable. It was 
determined to lay down the wire in a continuous line from 
Valentia Bay, in Ireland, to Newfoundland, the Niagara tak- 
ing the first half to the middle of the ocean, and the cable from 
the Agamemnon being joined on, that vessel to lay the remain- 
der. Everything being ready, the ships sailed from the Iri^h. 



154 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

coast on the evening of the 7th, and the operation of paying 
Gvit the cable worked satisfactorily. Early in the morning of 
the 10th, the water began very suddenly to grow deeper. In 
the course of eight miles its depth increased from five hundred 
and fift}^ fathoms to seventeen himdred and fifty, and soon 
afterward it reached two thousand fathoms. This occasioned 
an additional strain upon the cable, causing it to run out at a 
greater speed than that of the vessel. The retarding force of 
the brakes was accordingly increased to prevent the too rapid 
pay-out of the cable, which still, however, continued to run out 
much faster than the vessel advanced. At this time there was 
a strong wind and heavy sea. At a quarter before four in the 
morning of the 11th, the engineer of the company, who had 
personally superintended the working of the machinery, was 
obliged to go to another part of the vessel, leaving the breaks in 
charge of another person. In a few moments he heard the 
machine stop, and when he returned he found that the cable had 
parted at some distance from the ship. Of the cable three hun- 
dred anl thirty-five miles had been paid out, being fully one 
hundred miles more than the ship had run. The vessels at once 
returned. 

An extraordinary, violent, and destructive financial panic 
occurred late in the summer and autumn. The first actual shock 
was the failure, on the 24th of August, of the Ohio Life and 
Trust Company, which had borrowed largely on call in New 
York, and loaned the funds where they were not immediately 
available. The liabilities were about seven millions. The 
credit of this institution had been very high, and its failure not 
only shook public confidence, but involved many corporations 
and individuals in serious loss. Several stock and money dealers 
failed in New York, and the daily meetmgs of the Board of 
Brokers were characterized by intense excitement. Every in- 
dividual misfortune was announced on the news bulletins in 
large letters, and attracted curious crowds, which were con- 
tinually fed by the passing throngs. The N. Y. Clearing 
House report for the 29th of August showed a reduction of 
four millions of dollars in the bank loans during the previous 
week. The most substantial securities of the market fell rapidly 
in price at public sale. Doubts of the safety of bank-notes in 
circulation were generally entertained. One of the Associated 
Banks of New York fell into defaultT^at the end of August, 
and a fraud of seventy thousand dollars by the paying teller 
roused suspicion of similar misconduct in other institutions. 
The regular discount of bills by the banks was mostly suspended, 
and the street rates for money, even on unquestionable securi 
ties, arose to three, four, and five per cent a month ; on the 
ordinary securities of merchants, such as promissory notes and 
bills of exchange, money was not to be had at any rate. House 
after house of high commercial repute succumbed to the panic, 
and several heavj' banking houses were soon added to the list 
of failures. The statement of the New York banks for the 
week ending September 5th showed a further reduction in loans 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 155 

of more than four millions of dollars. Commercial embarrass- 
ments became the chief staple of news in all the papers of town 
or country. The purchase and transportation of produce almost 
entirely ceased. From this period there was nothing wanting 
to aggravate the common distress for money. Toward the 
close of September, three of the leading banks of Philadelphia 
failed, and the remainder resolved upon a temporary suspension 
of specie payments. This was followed by a similar step on 
the part of the banks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District 
of Columbia, and New Jersey. Early in October there was a 
decided increase in the stringency of the money market, and a 
consequent accession to the muuber of mercantile failures. 
Houses whose assets exceeded their liabilities hy hundreds of 
thousands of dollars were unable to meet engagements of com- 
paratively small amounts. Domestic exchanges became so un- 
settled that it was utterly impossible to remit funds from dis- 
tant points. A steady demand for specie set in ui)on the Xew 
York banks, which was promptly met until the morning of the 
13th, when a universal panic prevailed. By noon, the run upon 
the banks was general; Wall Street was choked by thousands of 
people endeavoring to force their way into banking-houses 
to demand specie for notes and checks. Before the close of 
business hours eighteen city banks were forced to close their 
doors, and announce that they had suspended specie payments. 
During the evening a meeting was held of representatives from 
the other banks. It was found that the specie in their vaults 
had been reduced from eleven millions four hundred and 
seventy-six thousand dollars 1o five millions live hundred 
thousand dollars. It was then unnniraously resolved that all 
the banks should temporarily suspend the payment of specie. 
This was done with but one exception. The example of sus- 
pension was at once followed throughout the country. The im- 
mediate effect of the suspension was that the notes of Xew 
York, New England, and other .solvent banks were at once 
received and paid out as usual in all business transactions, and a 
feeling of relief began to be experienced. The pressure passed 
away in the course of the winter. The liquidation was rapid, 
and by spring business was again in motion. The New York 
banks resumed on the 12th of December, and others followed 
gradually and informally. The effect of the panic upon busi- 
ness was disastrous, and it was almost annihilated. The same 
may be said of the industries of the country. Almost all the 
large manufacturing establishments either suspended opera- 
tions or worked upon short time. In New York City alone it 
was estimated that thirty or forty thousand mechanics and 
workmen were thrown out of employment. 

All the old books, papers, drafts, checks, and letters which 
had been preserved in the United States Bank in the long 
course of its immense business were sold at Philadelphia to a 
paper manufacturer. The whole mass weighed over forty 
tons. Ten tons of it consisted of autograph letters of the first 
statesmen, politicians, and financiers of this and other countries. 



156 HISTOEV OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The conductors and others having charge of the freight- 
trams on the first and second divisions of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad stopped work on the 29th of April, and re- 
fused to do duty. For several days of the following month, 
these men molested the different freight-trains running into the 
city, and on two occasions a desperate figbt ensued between 
the rioters and police who had been sent to guard the cars. At 
last the Governor of the State issued a proclamation, warning 
all persons to keep away from the neighborhood of the disturl> 
anccs, and dispatched the military to the ground. A desper- 
ate fight look place between the troops and the rioters, in which 
many were killed and wounded before the disturbances were 
quelled. 

By an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, the 
control of the Police Department of the city of New York was 
transferred from the municipal authorities to those of the 
State, and a police district was created, comprising the coun- 
ties of New York, Kings, Westchester, and Richmond. Upon 
this a contest arose between the Mayor of the city and the new 
board of Police Commissioners for the control of the Police, 
the Mayor having resolved to retain his power until he could 
test the constitutionality of the act in the courts. During the 
progress of the conflict between the two different authorities 
the Police Department became disorganized, and mob-law and 
crime increased in the city to a fearful extent. On the evening 
of the 3d of July, a disturbance commenced between two 
gangs of rowdies, which was continued on the following day. 
Sticks, stones, and knives were freely used, and men, women, 
and children were wounded. A few policemen were dis- 
patched to the sjDot, but they were driven off with several 
wounded, and the riot continued. The rioters tore up paving- 
stones, and seized drays, trucks, anil whatever came to hand, 
wherewith to erect barricades. The greatest consternation 
prevailed throughout the city ; several regiments of soldiers 
were called out, but the disturbance was not quelled before si.x 
men had been killed and over a hundred wounded. On the 
13th another mitbreak occurred, lasting two days, but which 
was finally put down by the police without military aid. 

From the 23d to the 25th of January, a severe tei'm of cold 
weather prevailed throughout New_England, the mercury 
ranging from twelve to twenty-four degrees below zero. Rail- 
roads were obstmcted by drifting snow, and Boston harbor 
was frozen over. 

William Walker was driven out of Nicaragua and escaped 
to the United States, where he determined to organize another 
filibustering expedition against the former country. On the 
10th of November, he was arrested at New Orleans on a charge 
of violating the neutrality laws. Being liberated upon giving 
bail, he departed for Mobile and there embarked on a packet, 
from which he was transferred to a steamer which had set out 
with three or four hundred men, as previously arranged, for 
another expedition to Nicaragua. On the 24th of November, 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 157 

Walker an-ived at the mouth of the Colorado, a branch of the 
San Juan, in Nicaragua, where a detachment of about lifty 
men was landed, who proceeded up the river. The steamer 
then proceeded to Greytown, where a landing was quietly ef- 
fected, although the United States sloop of war Saratoga laj' 
in the harbor. Intrenchments were thrown up, and the mili- 
tary character of the expedition became apparent. On the 6lh 
of December, the United States frigate Wabash, Commodore 
Paulding, arrived. The American vessels took up a position 
commanding the camp of the filibustei"s, who were summoned 
to surrender. They complied with the demand, and the men 
were shipped on board to be brought home. Walker, upon 
giving his word of honor to surrender himself on his arrival at 
New York, was permitted to return by the regular steamer 
from Aspinwall. He surrendered himself to the United States 
marshal upon reaching that city, whence he was taken to 
Washington, where he was discharged by the government. 

The making of watches by machineiy, which was commenced 
in 1850, and subsequently continued with only partial success, 
was perfected about this time. 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, on the 25th of June, 
purchased from the State for the sum of seven millions live 
hundred thousand dollars, its line of canals and railroads 
completed in 1830, between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, a dis- 
tance of three hundred and tifty -three miles. When the com 
pany took possession, the canals were in a dilapidated condi- 
tion, and the railroads out of repair. The canals were now 
soon abandoned, and the two cities connected by one line of 
continuous rail. 

The Chicago and St. Louis Railroad was completed this year; 
the Milwaukee and Mississippi, between Milwaukee and Prairie 
du Chien, was opened for travel on the 15th of April; the 
Memphis and Charleston, in May; direct railroad communica- 
tion was established between Baltimore and St. Louis, early in 
June; and during the year, between Detroit and Toledo. The 
Parkersburg branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroatl was 
completed on the 1st of May; and some time during the year tlie 
Virginia Central, one hundred and ninety-five miles in length, 
between Richmond and Jackson's River, was also finished. 

The California steamer Central America left Havana on the 
8th of September, for New York, having on board about six 
hundred persons, passengers and crew. A storm aro.se during 
the night of the 9th, which increased till the morning of the 
11th, when it was discovered that the vessel was leaking badly. 
The pumps were immediately put in operation, but the water 
gained rapidly, overflowing the coal-bunkers, cutting off the 
supply of the fuel, and finally putting out the fires in the 
furnace. The passengers and crew were then formed into 
gangs for bailing; but in spite of their efforts the water con- 
tinued to rise. The steamer was soon entirel}" helpless, and 
labored violently. On the afternoon of the 12th a vessel ap- 
peared in sight and upon a signal of distress being given bore 



158 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

towards the steamer. The vessel undertook to lie by, and take 
off as many of the passengers as possible. One of the steamer's 
boats had been swept away the previous night, and two more 
were stove in and disabled in launching; the remaining three 
were successfully launched. Into these three, more Ihan a 
hundred passengers were lowered, including all the women 
and children, and safely convej^ed on board the vessel, which 
had now drifted off two or three miles. The bailing was still 
kept up on board the steamer, and though the water continued 
to increase there was no general apprehension of immediate 
danger, until nearly eight o'clock in the evening, when the 
water swept over the deck. The steamer then made a sudden 
plunge, and went down in an instant, carrying with her all on 
board. A few Avho had secured refuge on fragments of the 
wreck were picked up by passing vessels, but the total number 
of persons lost was estimated to exceed four hundred. There 
was also a large amount of treasm-e lost, which, including that 
in the possession of passengers, is sujiposed to amount to more 
than two millions of dollars. 
1858 A second attempt was made to lay the Atlantic cable, in 
June. It was determined that the cable should be transported 
to mid ocean, one half of it by the Niagara, the other by the 
Agamemnon; it was then to be spliced; the Niagara to proceed 
in paying it out towards America, the Agamemnon to pay out 
at the same time and return to the landing-place in Ireland. 
The expedition sailed from Plymouth, England, on the 10th 
of June, and when three days out encountered a heavj^ gale, 
which continued without interruption for nine days. The 
ships kept together for seven days of this weather, when they 
were compelled to part company. They rejoined at the ap- 
pointed place in mid ocean, on the 26th. The cable was then 
spliced, but before five miles had been paid out, it parted on 
board the Niagara. The ships came together again, a new 
splice was made, and when each vessel had paid out about 
forty miles, the electric communication ceased. It was sup- 
posed on each vessel that the separation had taken place on board 
the other. But when the rendezvous was reached, it Avas found 
that the fracture had taken place at some distance from each 
ship, and apparently at the bottom of the ocean. The vessels 
came together, and the cable was once_niore joined. On the 
evening of the 28th, the third attempt was begun. All worked 
well on board the Niagara until nine o'clock of the evening of the 
29th. Something more than a hundred miles had been sailed. 
and nearly a hundred and fifty miles of the cable had been 
given out, when the communication suddenly ceased, and it 
became evident that the cable had parted, and, as was inferred 
from scientific tests, at or near the Agamemnon. It was then 
determined to test the strength of the cable. It was bloAving 
freshly, and the immense vessel was allow^ed to swing by the 
cable, which endured the strain more than an hoin-; then a 
heavy sea snapped it, and the Niagara bore away for Queens- 
town, where she arrived on the 5th of July. On the 12th the 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 159 

Agamemnon arrived there also. By its report of the breakinsr 
of the cable, it appeared that at the time the sea was perfectly 
calm, the strain upon the cable, as indicated by the dynamo- 
meter, being about twenty-one hundred pounds— only one third 
what it was warranted to bear — when allj at once, without the 
least apparent cause, it parted close l)y the stern of the steamer. 
As there was still, notwithstanding the loss of four hvindred 
miles of cable, a con.siderable surplus over the quantity sup- 
posed to be required, the Directors determined to make another 
trial. On the 17th of July, everything had been prepared, and 
the expedition left Queeustown, on the third attempt. The 
Niagara reached mid-ocean on the 33d, the Agamemnon on 
the 28th. On the following day the cable was joined, and the 
steamers proceeded towards their several destinations. The 
Niagara reached Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, on the morning 
of the 5th of August, and the Agamemnon, Valentia, in Ireland, 
on the same day. The two vessels had performed their task 
almost within the same hour of absolute time, and the cable 
was successfully laid without a break. The distance between 
the two termini was sixteen hundred and ninety-tivc geo- 
graphical miles; of this the Niagara had accomplished eight 
hundred and sixty-two miles, with an expenditure of ten hun 
dred and thirty miles of cable ; and the Agamemnon, eight 
hundred and thirteen miles, expending ten hundred and twenty 
miles of cable, each vessel having left a surplus of eiglity 
miles. Before night, on the oth of August, intelligence of the 
successful lajing of the cable was telegraphed throughout the 
country. Signals were sent over the cable, but the telegraphic 
apparatus not being arranged for some days, messages could 
not be transmitted. It had been pre\iously determined that 
the first dispatches sent over the line should be a message from 
the Queen of England to the President of the United States, 
and the President's reply. The necessary arrangements were 
not completed until the 16th of August, on which day the 
messages were transmitted, as arranged. The line was' then 
for some time devoted exclusively to "experiments on the part 
of the electricians ; no general dispatches being sent over it 
until the 25th, wlien a message dated at Valentia on that day, 
was published in the New York papers of the following day. 
The next daj^ a dispatch appeared In the New York afternoon 
papers dated at London on the morning of the same day. The 
intelligence of the successful laying of the cable was received 
everywhere with enthusiasm, and was celebrated by public 
demonstrations in almost every considerable town. On the ITth 
of August a hundred guns were fired in the New York City 
Hall Park, at daybreak, in honor of the event, and the salufe 
was repeated at noon. Flags were raised on all the public 
buildings, the bells were rung, and at night the city was bril- 
liantly illuminated. The 1st of September was set apart for a 
public ovation, by the municipal authorities, to Mi-. Field and 
the officers of the expedition. The celebration siu'passed every- 
thing of the kind ever witnessctl in the city. But these rejoic- 



160 HISTORY OF THE UNITED bTATES. 

ings were premature : the cable proved a failure from some 
imperfections in its manufacture, so that it could not be used ; 
and it was only after several years of labor that the projectors 
of the enterprise finally established success in the undertaking. 

Minnesota was admitted into the Union on the 11th of May. 

Gold was discovered this year, at Pike's Peak, Colorado. 
Upon the intelligence of this discovery being noised about, 
there at once set in a stream of adventurers to the locality, from 
all sections of the country. Within two years, it is stated, 
one hundred and seventy-five quartz-mills were in operation in 
the Territory. 

A project was set on foot hj "Walker for another expedition 
to Nicaragua, and he advertised in the newspapers his inten- 
tions, and asked the co-operation of American citizens and for 
emigrants to join him, designating Mobile as the place of ren- 
dezvous and departure. Thereupon the President issued a 
proclamation denouncing the project, and enjoining all officers 
of the government, civil and military, in their respective spheres, 
to be vigilant, active, and faithful in suppressing those illegal 
enterprises. A portion of the filibusters who had assembled 
at Mobile applied to the collector of the port for clearance, and 
were i-efused. On the 6th of December, they sailed secretly 
from Mobile, in the Susan, a coasting vessel. They were stopped 
by a revenue-cutter, but pretending to be engaged in a 
coasting voj-age, were suflfered to proceed. The vessel was 
driven by adverse winds on the coast of Honduras and wrecked. 
With much difficulty the men made their way to Belize, where 
they found themselves unable to procure a vessel to carry 
them to their place of destination. The governor at length offer- 
ed to send them back to the United States in a British armed 
vessel. He would not inquire into their original intentions, 
but as they had violated no law of England, would consider 
them simply as shipwrecked Americans. The offer was ac- 
cepted, and the filibusters were landed at Mobile on the first of 
the following month. 

Mount Vernon, the home and burial-place of Washington, 
was purchased by the " Ladies' Mount Vernon Association," 
who designed to hold it in perpetuity as a place of public 
resort and pilgrimage. 

The commencement of the work of constructing the Central 
Park, in New York, w^as made this y"ear. 

The first overland mail from California arrived at St. Louis 
on the 9th of October, having been conveyed from San Fran- 
cisco in twenty -three days and four hours. 

Mdlle. Piccolomini made her first appearance on the stage in 
America, on the 20th of September, at the New York Academy 
of Music. 

The first steam fire engine used in Baltimore arrived in that 
city on the 18th of May. In June the police and fire-alarm 
telegraph w^as established. In September a paid fire-depart- 
ment went into operation. 

In November, water was first introduced through street-pipes 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 161 

into the city of Brooklyn, and on the 17th of December it was 
Ijrst used in extinguishing a fire. 

Staten Island became the scene of a riot, growing out of the 
increased hostility of the inhabitants to the establishment of 
quarantine ou their shores. The State authorities had pur- 
chased in 1798 thirty acres in the town of Castleton, on the island, 
for quarantine purposes, and subsequently hospitals were 
erected thereon for fever and small-pox patients. As Staten 
Island became thickly settled, the removal of the quarantine 
was asked for, but nothing was done. In 1856 there were 
seven hundred and sixty-nine cases of yellow-fever on Staten 
Island, the adjoining shore of Long Island, and in South 
Brooklyn. In the following j'ear the legislature authorized tlie 
removal of quarantine, and land was bought at Seguin's Point, 
f even miles farther from New Yorlc, but still on the island. 
Five days after the transfer, a mob burned all the buildings. 
New ones were put up, but they also were burned, and the site 
was thenceforward abandoned, and the quarantine remained in 
the old place. The hostility to the establishment increased in 
strength ; the Castleton Board of Health declared it a nuisance, 
and on the night of September 1st the place was attacked by 
a mob, the sick were carried from the hospitals and laid upon 
mattresses in the field, the officers and physicians were driven 
off, and all the buildings, save the woman's hospital, were de- 
stroyed by fire ; the next night the remaining hospital was 
similarly destroyed. The governor declared the island in re- 
bellion, and sent troops there; but no further trouble occurred. 
Thirty -two buildings in all were burned. A number of the 
patients died in consequence of the exposure occasioned by 
their removal. 

Floods in the rivers of the west and southwest were unusually 
destructive this year. The loss was especially great upon the 
Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Ohio. Early in 
3Iay the levees about New Orleims gave way, causing the over- 
flow of an immense tract of sugar and cotton countrJ^ A month 
later series of inundations took place in the Upper Mississippi 
and its northern tributaries. On the 12th of June, the levee 
above Cairo, in Illinois yielded, and the entire town was sub- 
merged, causing much damage. The western railroads suffered 
severely by the destruction of tracks, bridges, and station houses. 
The total loss occasioned by these freshets was estimated at 
more than thirtj- millions of dollars, of which nearly one-half 
fell upon the cotton crop, and one-third upon the grain crop. 

The iron steamer Austria, plying between New York and 
Hamburg, was burned at sea on the 13th of September. She 
left Hamburg on the 2d, with five hundred and thirfj'-eight 
souls on board, of whom four hundred and twenty-five were 
passengers, the remainder being officers and crew. Additional 
passengers were taken on board at Southampton. On the after- 
noon of the 13th, when within three or four days of port, the 
boatswain was ordered to fumigate the steerage by immersing a 
hot iron in a bucket of tar. The tar became ignited and the 



162 'history of the united states. 

flames spread with great rapidity, rushing througli the gang- 
ways and hatchways at the entrance of the cabins, ciitting off 
all retreat to those below. Most of those who succeeded in gain- 
ing the dock were on the after-part of the vessel, and her head 
being to the wind, the flames were driven back upon them, com- 
pelling them to leap overboard. Attempts were made to launch 
the boats, but of those that were loosed all except one were 
swamped. As the engines ceased working, the vessel's head 
swung round, and the flames were driven forward, forcing the 
people out upon the bowsprit, from which many flung them- 
selves into the sea; some of whom sunk, while others supported 
themselves upon fragments of the ship. Two vessels were just 
in sight when the fire took place. By these, ninety-nine jjersons 
were^saved, some from the water, the others from the wreck. 
It was supposed all the remainder were lost. 

The Crystal Palace, erected in New York for an Industrial 
Exhibition, caught fire on the' 5th of October, and was con- 
sumed with the contents, involving a loss exceeding a million 
of dollai's. The Fair of the American Institute had just been 
opened in the palace, which was filled with objects for exhibi- 
tion, some of which were of considerable value. 
1859 An organized attempt to excite an insurrection of the slaves 
in Virginia was set on foot, which startled and profoundly 
stirred the nation. On the night of the 16th of October, John 
Brown, an ani islavery enthusiast, with twenty-two armed men, 
made a descent upon the town of Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, 
where was located a United States arsenal, containing a large 
amount of arms. The i:»urpose of the capture was to hold the 
place as a refuge for the fugitive slaves who might gain their 
liberty upon the success of the plans that Brown had formed. 
The insurgents took possession of the government buildings 
that were left unguarded, and then some of them proceeded to 
the residences of two wealthy farmers in the vicinity, made them 
prisoners with such slaves as they could secure, and brought 
them to the arsenal. In the morning, as the laborers belonging 
to the arsenal came one by one to their work they were also 
made prisoners. As the day advanced, an alarm was given, 
and military companies from the neighborhood arrived upon 
the scene. During the day shots were fired on both sides by 
which several lives wei'c lost. Late at night some United States 
marines appeared and invested the arsenal imtil morning, at 
which time that building was carried by assault and Brown and 
those remaining of his party were captured. Fourteen of the 
insurgents had been killed in the strife; of the citizens and sol- 
diers.seven were killed, including the Mayor of ihe town, and a 
number wounded. Brown and his accomplices were promjjtlj' 
tried, convicted, and executed. 

Oregon was admitted into the Union as a State on the 14th of 
February, w^ith a Constitution prohibiting slavery within its 
borders. 

During the year the hostilities of the Indian tribes on our 
northwestern frontier were unusually frequent. A report from 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 163 

the War Department gives iu detail official accounts of nineteen 
separate actions between September 20, 1858, and October 19. 
1859. In these engagements, between three and four hundred 
Indians were killed, wounded, or captured; between tifty and 
one hundred of our troops were killed and wounded; and a 
large number of animals of various kinds were taken from 
the Indians. 

The "interviewing" feature of journalism had its origin this 
3'ear. Among those stated to be implicated in the raid of John 
Brown on Harper's Ferry was Gerrit Smith, a noted anti- 
slavery advocate. One of the special reporters of the Xfw York 
Herald was despatched to his residence at Peterboro', N. Y., 
where he had a long interview with that distinguished philan- 
tropist. This was published in full, in conversational style, 
and produced a sensation. From this period that style of re- 
porting was adopted in all parts of the country. 

Four aeronauts ascended in a balloon from St. Louis, on the 
first of July, and, after travelling a distance of eleva-n hundred 
and fifty miles in nineteen hours and lifteen minutes, landed in 
Jefferson Count}-, in the State of New York. On the 22d of 
September, two of the aeronauts ascended in a l)alloon from 
Watertown, N. Y., and after travelling four hours, landed in 
Canada at a place about three hundred miles distant. 

Mdlle. Adelina Patti made her first appearance on any stage 
as a dramatic vocalist, at the New York Academy of Music, on 
the 24th of November. At this time she had not attained her 
seventeen! ii year. 

The art of photo-lithography was first introduced this year, in 
preparing the maps published in the first volume of " Palfrey's 
History of New England," issued at Boston; and in Leslie's 
"Iron Manufacturers' Guide," at New York. 

The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad Company 
Avas formed by the consolidation of the Ohio and Pennsylvania, 
the Ohio and Indiana, and the Fort Wayne and Chicago rail- 
roads, making one continuous line between Pittsburg and Chi- 
cago, a distance of four hundred and sevenly-one miles. 

Street railways were opened for travel this year, for the first 
time, in Chicago and Baltimore. 
1860 The success of the Republican party, in the presidential elec- 
tion of this year, organized to light the extension of slavery 
into newly-formed States and Territories, was the culmination 
of a long quarrel between the Southern States, where slavery 
was a " peculiar institution," and the Northern States, where, 
slavery having long before been given up, a sentiment hostile 
to it in other sections had been steadily growing for two or 
three generations. The election of Lincoln as President, in 
November, was the determining circumstance which led to the 
civil war that soon followed. Differences of opinion as to the 
power to regulate the domestic affairs of the States and Terri- 
tories was tbe political issue involved; the protection and de- 
velopment of the institution on which the prosperity of the South 
almost exclusively depended— negro slavery — was the material 



164 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

interest really at stake. Congress was tlic scene in which the 
controversy was principally waged. Orators like Wendell 
Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison raised their voices against 
slavery in the rostrum; newspapers published earnest articles 
on the same subject; books were written to picture the oper- 
ations of the sj'stem, one of them being Harriet Beecher Stowe's 
•'Uncle Tom's Cabin." Dickens, the English novelist, added 
his satire to the agitation by his " American Notes." But the 
vehicle for the feeling thus aroused was the Federal Legis- 
lature. Hither n-imerously signed petitions came from the 
North, asking for the abolition of slavery; and hither came 
verbal and written protests from the South against interference 
with what was considered a local matter pui'ely, and an in- 
vasion of State rights. Congress itself was a battle field as early 
as 1820. When Missouri was admitted to the Union, a pro- 
tracted discussion was had, Avhich resulted, in allowing that 
State to have slaves but prohibiting the institution in new 
States and Territories north of latitude 36" 30', or west thereof. 
Arkansas, which came in later, gave the slave power still 
greater political influence in the national councils. This was 
increased further in 1845 by the admission, of Texas, which 
had seceded from Mexico; and a prospect wasalToided of more 
slave States to be erected out of Mexican territory, taken in 
the war which followed, and e:!Ltending up north into what is 
now Colorado. California, also annexed by this war, was ad- 
mitted as a free State in 1850; but only after prolonged debate, 
and the adoption of a law facilitating the return, to their own- 
ers, of fugitive slaves. New Mexico and Utah were erected 
into Territories with scarcely less contention. Oregon had been 
constituted a Territory in 1849 with some such discussion, too. 
The fiercest struggle between the slavery and abolition parties 
was for the control of the region next west of Missouri and 
Iowa. In 1854 it was divided into Kansas and Nebraska. The 
Whigs and Republicans in Congress held, in this controversy, 
that, by the terms of the Missouri Compromise, these Territories 
were to exclude slavery. The Democrats, the majority of 
whom came from the South, insisted, on the other hand, that 
this understanding had been abrogated by certain laws of 1850. 
Finally, the principle of popular sovereignty, or home rule, 
expounded by Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, was 
adopted regarding Kansas and Nebraska, and the people of 
those Territories were left free to allow or forbid slavery by 
their own constitutions, whenever they came into the Union. 
Thereupon a race ensued between Northern and Southern 
settlers to fill up and control Kansas. Nebra.ska was not con- 
tested. For nearly six years the disputed Territory was the 
scene of much disorder, the colonizers engaging in many 
bloody affrays. Two constitutions were adojited by ditiereut 
assemblies. One, framed at Lecompton, allowed slavery, but 
at a popular election it was voted down. Another, adopted 
at Wyandot in 1859, prohibited slavery; and with this, in 1861, 
Kansas finally came into the Union. So determined had this 



mSTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. 165 

struggle over slavery been that William H. Scwaril, as early as 
1848, wanted the issue made the chief one in the presidential 
campaign. Several years later, in the Senate, he spoke of the 
controversy as an " irrepressible conflict." The more radical 
Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, in his unsuccessful campaign for 
the Senatorship in 1858, declared solemnly his belief that the 
" Union could not permanently endure, half slave and half free. "' 
The Southern people, irritated by what they looked upon as 
impertinent meddling, threatened the lives of such abolitionists 
as visited their cities; and sympathizers with the South made it 
uncomfortable for these agitators even in the North. Two 
events which greatly embittered feeling between the two sec- 
tions, were the assault on Senator Sumner, in the Senate cham- 
ber, and John Brown's raid into Virginia. The strife in Kansas 
also agitated the public mind, both at the North and South, 
increasing the growing animosity between the extremists of 
both sides, and converting to the ranks of the Republican party 
large numbers of Northern Democrats, among whom were the 
names of many eminent men. When Congress met for its 
winter session of 1859-60, the trium]ih of the Free State paity 
in Kansas was already achieved, and the would-be State stootl 
knocking at the door of the Union for admission. The Southern 
party, finding that the scheme of leaving the people of a State 
to decide this slavery question for them.selves had not Avorked 
as they expected, took the position that the Federal Govern- 
ment was bound to protect, in the Territories, any citizens of 
other States who might go there with slaves, and protect them 
in their possession, too; in short, that no restriction upon the 
extension of slavery was constitutional. The foremost cham- 
pion of this principle was Jefferson Davis, senator from Missis- 
sippi, who presented a series of resolutions embodying the idea, 
and, after long debate, they were adopted by the Senate on the 
34th of May. This doctrine that the Federal Government iiuist 
protect slaveholders in their " rights " when they settled in a 
new free State was the central issue of the presidential election 
in this year. One wing of the Democratic part}-, noi willing 
to squarely affirm it, ignored it, and nominated for President 
the great advocate of popular sovereignty, " the Little Giant," 
as he was called, Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois. Herschel V. 
Johnson, of Georgia, was named for Vice-President on this 
ticket. The more determined factions of the Democracy 
(Southerners) reiterated Mr. Davis's proposition, and on that 
platform nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for 
President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon (now a State), for Vice- 
President. The Constitutional Union, or American, or "Know- 
Nothing " party, took no decided gi-ound on the slavery 
question. It nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, and Edward 
Everett, of Massachusetts, as its national candidates. As in 
1856, so now, the Republicans emphasized the gospel of the 
Declaration of Independence that " all men are created equal," 
and denounced as dangerous heresy this new dogma of the 
Southerners, and deprecated the threats of disunion which were 



IGG HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATE.S. 

thrown out by the slaveholdcry. Tlie Demoei-atic split pre- 
\ented Mr. Douglas from carrying a single State, left Mr. Bel] 
in the ascendancy in Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, thus 
robbing Mr. Breckinridge of part of even the slave States, and 
defeated him. Lincoln carried every Northern State except 
New Jerse}^ which was divided between three candidates. His 
election quickly brought about secession. The right of a State 
to withdraw from the Union had been affirmed and debated in 
Congress and out of Congi-ess for at least three decades. One 
of the most emphatic assertions of it was made in the tariff con- 
troversy by South Carolina in 1832. Some concessions were 
made in Congress, however, in tariff legislation the next Feb- 
ruary; and the chief nullifiers decided to recede from the posi- 
tion they had taken. John C.Calhoun, senator from that State, 
reaffirmed the doctrine in his speeches, howe\-er, repeatedly, 
and denied the right of the national government to " coerce" a 
State. The possibility of secession came up for discussion after- 
wards, rejjeatedly, in connection with slavery, and threats of 
T/ithdrawal were continually being made by Southern Congress- 
men. It was this association of two ideas that led Daniel 
Webster, in combating them both, to raise the historic demand 
for "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Insepar- 
able." Not merelj" the notion of secession, but practical meas- 
ures looking to it were considered. Toward the close of the 
presidential campaign of 1856, a secret coimcil of Southern 
governors was held in Raleigh, N. C, upon the suggestion of 
Governor Wise, of Virginia, to lay out a progranmie for action 
incase Fremont should be elected. Again, in this year, dur- 
ing the presidential campaign, the idea of secession as a result 
of Lincoln's election was discussed, openly and secretly, at 
various meetings at the South. More tlian once it had been 
proposed in Congress to abolish slavery in the District of C!o- 
limibia. Should the Republicans gain control of the national 
government, there was no reason why thej' should not carr\- 
out that .scheme, but follow it up elsewhere — so the Southerners 
argued. Not onlj' would the extension of slavery into new 
States be prevented, and the development of enough Free States 
be accomplished to overbalance the South, but actual aggression 
against slavery, where it ah'eady existed, might be begun; and 
the Northern fanatics would not stop until they had completely 
destroyed the slave system of the South. — But this slave system 
was that by which the chief industry of the South— cotton and 
sugar culture — was conducted. Abolition would paralyze all 
business, ruin agriculture, and, since the millions of slaves were 
each worth several hundred dollars to their owners, the actual 
wealth of the whole section would be tremendously diminished 
by declaring the blacks to be no longer anj- one's property. 
Steps to accomplish secession were pi-omptly taken. The South 
Carolina Legislature was in session in Novembcr^ when Lincoln 
was elected. That body immediately considered resolutions 
declaring this event a menace to the jieace and safety of the 
South, providing for arming the State, and calling a State con- 



HISTOKT OF THE UNITED STATES. 167 

vention to consider secession measures. There was some vigor- 
ous ojiposition to these schemes, but they were carried through. 
The convention met on December 17, and, three days later, 
adopted an ordinance of secession without dissent. This in- 
strument formally declared the relations between that State 
and the others dissolved. A delegate had been sent to Georgia, 
whose legislature was in session, to advise similar action. In- 
formal but equally strenuous persuasion w^as exercised in other 
States also. Special sessions of State legislatures, governors' 
messages, ardent debates, popular oratory, and other like 
agencies, were now brought to bear in all the slave States, to 
secure imitation of South (.'aroliua's example. Much objection 
was offered to the movement that had now set in. In Georgia, 
Alexander H. Stephens, a prominent Congressman, took the 
ground that while the State had the right to secede, it would 
be inexpedient for her to do so. Nearly all the slave States 
seceded in the following month. 

The petrol eiim oil business was started this year, develop- 
ing intense excitement throughout the countiy, and an era of 
wild speculation surpassing any heretofore witnessed in the 
United Sta<^es in any line of business. The existence of petro- 
leum about the head-waters of the Alleghany River, in Kcw 
York and Pennsjdvania, was known to the early settlers of that 
region, but it was collected only in small quantities from the 
surface of the water as it stood in pools below the springs, and 
was used onlj' as a medicine. No susincion appears to have 
been entertained that the supplies could be increased by sinking 
deep Avells through the sand stones and shalesthat underlay the 
valley; and it was not known that by distillation and chemical 
treatment the quality of the petroleum could be greatly im- 
proved. The progress of experiments made upon the dis- 
tillation of the oil, and their success, began to direct attention 
to the localities where petroleum was produced. The first 
movement in its development was made in 1854, when two men 
from the city of New York secured the right to the Upper 
Spring on Oil Creek, Pa. No progress, however, was made 
until the winter of 1859, when Col. E. L. Drake, of New 
Haven, completed arrangements for boring a well at Titusville, 
on Oil Creek. On the 26th of August of that year, at a de]ith 
of seventy-one feet, oil was struck, and it rose within a few feet 
of the siu'face. This Avell was the first well ever sunk for oil, 
and the first petroleum ever obtained by boring. Upon apply- 
ing a large pump, a supply of one thousand "barrels per day 
was produced. This success gave a value to every spot where 
oil had ever been found, or where it was likely to be. The 
matter became noised about, and soon attracted a large number 
of visitors and speculators from the surrounding countrj-. The 
news had become so wide-spread at the commencement of this 
year that a scene of excitement beyond description was inau- 
gurated. The Drake well was thronged with visitors arriving 
from different sections of the country, thousands pouring in 
from the neighboring States. Everybody was eager to purchase 



168 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

or lease oil lands at any price demanded. Almost in a night 
a wilderness cf derriclvs sprang up and covered the entire bot- 
tom lands of Oil Creek. Oil Creek below Titusville, the valley 
of the Alleghanj^ River from below Franklin into Warreii 
Comity, Pa., ancl other places were soon explored by wells, 
and around the most successful of these, fomierlj- the most re- 
tired portions of the State, villages began to spring up and 
rapidly increase in population. It has been estimated that be 
fore the close of this year, the number of wells in that part ol" 
Pennsylvania was two thousand. 

The Prince of Wales, the heir apparent of the English throne, 
arrived at St. Johns, Newfoundland, on the 23d of July. 
After completing his tour through the British Provinces, he ar- 
rived at Detroit, on the 21st of September, and thence pro- 
ceeded, by the way of Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and 
Baltimore, to Washington, where he arrived on the 3d of Octo- 
ber. He remained the guest of the President until the 7th, visit- 
ing Mount Vernon in the interval. He then \isitcd Richmond, 
thence proceeded to New York, stopping at Philadelphia on 
his way. Everywhere in the United States he was most cor- 
dially received. He reached New York on the 11th, and was 
welcomed by a grand military and civic display. On the fol- 
lowing day iie attended a grand ball given him in his honor by 
a committee of four hundred prominent citizens. On the 
evening of the 13th, a torchlight procession of firemen paraded 
in his honor. On the 15th he visited the Military Academy at 
West Point, thence proceeded to Albanj^ where he was enter 
tained by the Governor of the State. From Albany he went 
to Boston, where he was welcomed by a procession and a ball. 
He then travelled to Portland, where he arrived on the 20th. 
After a brief interview with the city officials, he proceeded on 
board the vessel which was awaiting him, and set out on his 
homeward voyage. 

The United States steamer Powhatan arrived at San Fran- 
cisco on the 27th of March, bringing a Japanese embassj' to 
this country. This embassy consisted of two principal ambas- 
sadors, princes of the highest rank in the empire, with two 
associates of nearly equal rank. Accompanying these were ten 
officials, two interpreters, two physicians, and fifty -three servants. 
At San Francisco they were treated with the highest resjieet 
and as guests of the city, which appropriated twenty thousand 
dollars for their entertainment. The Governor of the State, 
the officers of the corporation, members of the legislature, and 
many private citizens visited them, and on the 2d of April a 
]-)ublic reception, attended by the United States officers, the 
foreign consuls, and State authorities, was accorded to them. 
They brought one hundred thousand dollars to defray their ex- 
penses, and many boxes of presents to the members of our go\- 
ernment, though invited to come as the guests of our coimtry, 
and at its sole expense. From San Francisco they went to 
New York, where they arrived in the United States steamer 
Roanoke on the 9th of May. The embassy did not stop at 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 160 

New York, but proceeded in the same vessel to Washington. 
There the strangers were received with great distinction as 
guests of the nation, and the treaty which they bore was for- 
mally ratified. From Washington they proceeded to Xew 
York, stopping at Philadelphia on their way, arri\ing there, as 
the guests of the city, on the 16th of June. They received a 
similar reception in New York to that in San Francisco, and 
remained until the 39th, when they embarked on board the 
United States steamer Niagara, which had been put in readi- 
ness to take them to their homes. 

The mammoth steamer Great Eastern left England on the 
17th of June, and arrived at New York on the 28th, where for 
several days she was visited by large numbers of spectators. 

The United States steamers j\Iohawk and Wj'andot, cruising 
off the coast of Cuba, captured several slavers, and brought their 
cargoes to Key West. One of these slavers had on board tive 
hundred and ten native Africans brought from Congo River ; 
another had five hundred and sixty who had been purchased 
at Whydah, of the King of Dahomey. In all there were seven- 
teen hundred captured slaves gathered at Ke}' West, among 
whom great mortality occurred. Provision was made by Con- 
gress for sending these Africans to Liberia. Another slaver, 
owned in New York, was captured near the African coast by 
the United States steamer Mohican, with nearly nine hundred 
slaves on board, and eight hundred and sixty of them were 
landed in Liberia, the remainder having died on the waj'. 

William Walker, the filibuster, quietlj' left New Orleans, in 
June, on another expedition to Nicaragua. Making a descent 
upon Honduras, he attacked the town of Truxillo, and cap- 
tured it without any difficulty. In a proclamation to the peo- 
ple of Honduras he informed them that he was making war, 
not on them, but on their government. In August, the Presi- 
dent of Honduras with seven hundred men approached Tru- 
xillo, and the commander of an English man-of-war in the 
harbor demanded that AYalker should give up the town, on the 
ground that the British Government had claims upon the re- 
ceipts of the custom-house. Walker then abandoned Truxillo, 
leaving his sick behind, and with eighty men retired down the 
coast, followed by a body of native troops, whose attacks 
were repulsed. In September, he was overtaken by Gen- 
ei"al Alvarez at the head of a considerable force. He, with 
his men, suxTendered without resistance. Walker and his 
second in command wore delivered to the authorities of Hon- 
duras, but the rem.-vindcr of the party were sent back to the 
United States. Walker was brought to trial, condemned, and 
shot. His partner was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. 

The first steam fire-engine used in Indianapolis was received 
there on the 30th of March. 

The New York World made its first appearance in June. 

During this year work upon the Central Park at New York 
was sufficiently advanced for it to be opened to the public. 

In January were completed tlie last two links in the great 



170 HISTORY OF THE ITNITED STATES. 

chain of railways from Maine to Louisiana; the first, the last 
twenty-five miles on the Mississippi Central, and the second of 
sixty-one miles between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, on the 
Orange and Alexandria Railroad. By the comjiletion of these 
roads, a continuous line of railway , about two thousand miles 
in length, was formed between Bangor and New Orleans, with 
the exception of four short ferries, two of which were soon 
after bridged over. 

On the afternoon of the 10th of January, a serious disaster 
occurred at Lawrence, Mass. The main building of the Pcm- 
berton Cotton Mills, one of the largest structures of the kind in 
the country, while the machinery was in motion suddenly fell 
without warning, burying in the i-uins several hundreds of the 
operatives. Strenuous efforts were made to secure the victims, 
and many were saved ; but at nine o'clock in the evening the 
ruins took fire from the accidental breaking of a lantern used by 
one of those engaged in the work of aiding the sufferers. The 
flames spread with such rapidity as to render it impossible to 
save those who were shut up among the fallen timbers and 
machinery, and large numbers were biu-ned to death, in addi- 
tion to those who were killed by the fallen building. Accord- 
ing to a careful canvas of the city made a week after the disaster, 
the number known to be dead was one hundred and .seventeen ; 
there were eighty-nine missing, most of whom were supposed 
to be buried in the mins; one hundred and twelve were .severely, 
and two hundred slightly injured. 

A dreadful tornado passed over a portion of Illinois and 
Iowa, on the 3d of June, occasioning a loss of over one hun- 
dred and fifty lives. The tornado travelled ninety miles in 
Iowa, and seventy in Illinois, causing an immense destruction 
of property. 

The steamer Hungarian, on her voyage from Liverpool to 
Portland, Me., was wrecked on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. It 
was believed that every person on board perished— over two 
hundred, crew and passengers. 

On the night of the 7th of September, the steamer Lady 
Elgin, plying on Lakes Michigan and Superior, was run into 
by a schooner, and sunk in a few minutes. Of about four 
hundretl persons on board, less than one hundred were saved. 
1861 Abraham Lincoln assumed the duties of President of the 
United States, and Hannibal Hamlin as^ice-Presideut, on the 
4th of March. 

The Legislatures of the Southern States passed ordinances of 
.secession from the Union this year, in the following order: 
Mississippi, Januarj' 9th ; Florida, January 10th : Alabama, 
January lllh ; Georgia, January 19th ; Louisiana, January 
26th; North Carolina, January 30th; Texas. February 1st': 
Virginia, April 17th ; Arkansas, May 6th. The Legislature of 
North Carolina voted to submit the question to the people; but 
reassembling on the 20th of May, accepted it, without doing 
so. That of Texas voted to submit it to the people, and 
on March 4th that State was declared by proclamation to 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 171 

be out of the Union. The Lej^nslature of Virginia refused, 
April 4th, to submit the question to the people ; but afterwards 
voted to do so, and a vote for secession wm cast on the 3oth 
of June. The Legislature of Arkansas, April 14th, voted to 
submit it to the people, but reassembling, passed it on the 6th 
of May. On the 20th of May, Governor MagofBn proclaimed 
Kentucky neutral. The Legislature of Missouri assumed a 
similar position. On June 12th, the Governor of 3Iissouri 
issued a proclamation for fifty thousand militia " to repel in- 
vasion," and tied to the South. The Legislature of Tennpssee 
passed a declaration of independence, to be submitted to the 
people; and on the 24th of June, the governor proclaimed her 
out of the Union. On the 21st of June however, a Union con- 
vention was held at Greenville, which issued a declaration of 
gn'evances. 

Seven of the "Free and Independent Sovereignties," as they 
considered themselves, which had alread}' left the old L'nion, 
quickly formed a new one. Their delegates met at Montgom- 
ery February 4th, and by the 8th had organized " The Confed- 
erate States of America," with Jefferson Davis of Mississippi 
for President, and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia for Vice- 
President. Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennes- 
see joined the Confederacj^ upon declaring themselves out of 
the Union. These additions to the Confederacy made eleven 
members in all. The other four States, Missouri, Kentucky, 
Marjdand, and Delaware, either voted to remain neutral, or 
failed to pass an ordinance of secession; but part of their terri- 
tory was debatable ground during military operations; and 
among their citizens were many earnest and active sympathizers 
with the South. 

The South was not allowed to go without some attempt to 
compromise the difficulty. Andrew Jackson treated nullifica- 
tion as treason. He denied that the L^nion was a mere league 
from which any memlier might withdraw at will. He insisted 
that the States did surrender part of their sovereignty to the 
national government when they formed the Union, and that se- 
cession was not a constitutional privilege. An attempt to 
secede, therefore, he held to be an act of violence and a threat 
of ruin to the Union, to be resisted and punished. So, now, a 
large element in the North held that no compromise should be 
assented to; but that vigorovis measures should be adopted, in 
order to bring the Southern States back to their allegiance. 
The attitude of the South was well expressed in the remark of 
one of her statesmen: "All we want is to be let alone." But 
many Republicans, taking Jackson's view of secession, did not 
l)ropose to let the South alone, but to treat her as in rebellion. 
Others doubted the wisdom of employing force. Some, dazed 
by what was going on, and uninformed as to Lincoln's pur- 
poses, had no views at all. Others would have let them go in 
peace. Still others were for friendly overtures and pacifjing 
persuasion. All the winter of 1860-Gl Congress and the press 
discussed those issues, the ri^ht of secession, the riffht of the 



172 HISrOEY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

Federal government to coerce a State, and the expediency of 
concessions. Two peace schemes were conspicuous among sev- 
eral under consideration. One was the Crittenden Compro- 
mise. The Senator from Kentucky, whose name it bore, intro- 
duced it. The essential idea of it was a proposed amendment 
to the Constitution, fixing the old Missouri compromise line, 
latitude 36° 30', as the division between free and slavery 
territory in the West, prohibiting Congress from abolish- 
ing slavery in the District of Columbia, or any State, and 
providing for a more effectual enforcement of the fugitive- 
slave law. The other project was submitted to Congress 
by a peace convention made up of delegates from the vari- 
ous States, called by Governor Wise of Virginia. This 
body met in February. It adopted a plan forbidding interfer- 
ence with slavery wherever it existed, and allowing new States 
to decide for themselves whether they would allow slavery, and 
forbidding the annexation of new territory to the United 
States without the consent of the South. Neither of these 
measures was adopted by Congress. Mr. Seward, who, as 
Lincoln's chief rival in the nominating convention, was looked 
upon as probable Secretary of State and spokesman for the in- 
coming administration, met them with a third pi'oject — to call a 
national convention to consider what amendments w^ere neces- 
sary; but this was rejected also. Without waiting for these top- 
ics to be disposed of, the Senators and Congressmen from the 
eleven States which had then seceded withdrew from the Na- 
tional Legislature in Washington. South Carolina's senators 
resigned in November. Most of the withdrawals were in Jan- 
uary, and a few^ of them were prefaced by short formal 
speeches. Jefferson Davis was one of those to indulge in this 
ceremony. This reduction of the Democratic strength made it 
practicable to admit Kansas, the thirty-fourth State, to the 
Union in February. The Morrill Tariff Act, which Southern 
free-traders would have antagonized, was also passed; and only 
the ordinary appropriations, amounting to seventy millions of 
dollars, were made for the coming year. 

Long before the actual outbreak of the war the local State mili- 
tia had taken possession of nearly every fort, arsenal, navy -yard, 
revenue-cutter, mint, sub-treasury, custom-house, post-office, 
and other Federal posis in the South. Anticipating this. Major 
Koberl Anderson, at Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, re- 
moved his little garrison of United States troops to Fort Smn- 
ter by night in December. Fortress Monroe, at Hampton 
Roads, Va., was also in Federal hands; Fort Pickens, near 
Peusacola, and works at Key West and Tortugas, Fla., also; 
and this was all that was saved. Some thirty forts, hundreds 
of cannon, and munitions valued at twenty millions of dollars, 
fell into Southern hands. John B. Floyd, Buchanan's Secre- 
tary of War, who afterwards became a Confederate general, 
was accused of stocking the forts and arsenals in the South 
quite fully, with the view of thus aiding the cause of secession. 
The way in which the na\'v Avas dispatched to foreign waters 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 173 

during the winter was also thought to be dictated bj- a desire 
to help the Confederacy by disabling, for a time, Lincoln's ad- 
ministration. Mr. Buchanan believed that he had no authority 
to check secession, and pursued a passive policy, aiming, how- 
ever, to preserve peace until his successor should come in. In- 
deed, he practically pledged himself, by a commissioner se- 
cretly sent South, to remain neutral. 

The first shot fired at the Stars and Stripes in this contest, 
perhaps, was that aimed at the steamer Star of the West, sent 
down to Fort Sumter with provisions, in January. She left 
New York on the 4th, and reached Charleston harbor on the 
9th. As she came up the bay that morning, a cannon-ball was 
sent into her from Fort Moultrie. This was the act of the 
South Carolina militia. As yet but one State had seceded 
There was no Confederacy. Without trying to communicate 
with Major Anderson the steamer turned about and left the 
harbor. This was the signal for a rapid occupation of other 
fortifications by Southern forces. The first decided act of war 
came three months later. On the 11th of April, General G. T. 
Beauregard demanded of Major Anderson the surrender of 
Fort Sumter to the Confederate forces, and this being refused, 
he began a thirty four hours' bombardment next day. The 
fort was badly damageil, and Anderson's rations were ex- 
hausted, with no prospect of relief. He therefore surrendered. 
The news of this aggression thrilled the country. Lincoln im 
mediately called for seventy-five thousand volunteers for 
three months' service in suppressing the rebellion; and May 3d. 
for eighty-three thousand, including seamen, for " three years 
or the war." Massachusetts and Pennsylvania soldiers were 
attacked by a mob while passing through Baltimore April 19th, 
and, one being killed, fired on the rioters, killing eleven. Gen- 
eral B. F. Butler commanding Fortress Monroe, at the mouth 
of James River, attempted, June 10th, to take Bethel Clnn-ch, 
near by, without success. Genei'al T. A. Morris, with Indiana 
and Ohio troops, invaded Virginia from Parkersbm-g, and won 
a slight victory at Philippi. General George B. McClellan. 
taking command in Western Virginia, followed this up with 
another more decisive, at Rich Mountain, July 11th. Another 
battle, September 14th, won by General W. S. Rosecrans, 
practically secured to the Union the region now mcluded iu 
West Virginia. Colonel Lew Wallace drove a small Confederate 
force from Romney, west of the Blue Ridge, June 11th. Gen- 
eral Robert Patterson was thus enabled to safely invade the Shen- 
andoah Valley from the north. He occupied Winchester, and 
was instructed to keep General Joseph E. Johnston's Confed- 
erate troops from going eastward to Manassas, where now the 
chief battle of the year was to be fought. The main Union 
army under General Irwin McDowell, advanced westward in 
July from Alexandria, Va. A skii-mish with Beauregard's 
troops occurred near Ball Run, the 18th; and a battle ensued 
the 21st, at Manassas. The invaders seemed victorious at first; 
but after noon six thousand of Johnston's soldiers arrived. 



174 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

and the Union troops fell back in great disorder to Washing- 
ton. The Confederate loss was two thousand and tifty; Union, 
about tln-ee thousand. The disaster disheartened tlie North. 
Lieuteuant-General Scott, commander-in-chief, then resigned. 
McDowell was promptly superseded by McClellan; and Patter 
son, for not restraining Johnston, was replaced by General N, 
P. Banks. McClellan threw two thousand troops across the 
Potomac at Ball's Bluflf in October; but on the 21st, before 
they could be supported, they were attacked and routed. 

Missouri was invaded by Confederates from Texas and 
Arkansas in the spring. They were defeated by General Xa- 
thaniel Lyon at Booueville, June 17th; by General Franz Sigcl 
at Carthage, July 5th; and at Wilson's 'Creek, August 10th. 
Lyon was killed there, after apnarent victory; and Sigel with- 
drew. The Confederates took Ler'ngton, which General John 
C. Fremont recovered October 16th. General David Hunter, 
and then General H. W. Halleck, succeeded to command 
in Missouri that fall. Before the year closed the Union forces 
practically controlled the State. 

The Confederates had occupied Columbus, Ky., in the autumn, 
and Belmont, in Missouri, opposite. General U. S. Grant tried 
to dislodge them from the latter place, November 7th, but 
was driven out again by General Polk's men from Columbus. 

The Union navy blockaded most of the Southern seaports 
this year, capturing many inward-bound vessels with war-mimi- 
tions, and outward-bound vessels with cotton, and helped troops 
get a foothold along the coast. Commodore Stringham and 
General Butler took the forts at Hatteras Inlet, N. C, August 
29th, and Commodore Dupont and General Thomas W. Sher- 
man captured those at Port Royal, S. C, November 7th. Next 
day, Captain Wilkes of the San Jacinto stopped the British 
merchant-steamer Trent, from Havana to England, and cap- 
tured James M. Mason and John Slidell, Confederate commis- 
sioners, bound on a diplomatic errand to London. The Eng- 
lish people sympathized with the Confederacy strongly. The 
British Government resented the act, and a declaration of war 
seemed imminent. But Lincoln's Secretary of Stale, Seward. 
having first secured from England an important admission of 
the sacredness of neutral flags in time of war, the prisoners 
were surrendered. ^ 

In Congress, practically nothing was done, during the close 
of Buchanan's administration, having any reference to the war, 
as the war was not then a certainty. After the attack on Fort 
Sumter, however, and President Lincoln had called out the 
troops, suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the insm-rection- 
ary districts, declared a blockade of the Southern ports, and 
taken other measures which he thought the emergency required, 
he felt the necessity of moral and pecuniarj' support from Con- 
gress, especially as the military operations in Maj' and June 
began to indicate the seriousness of the conflict "already in- 
augurated. He therefore called an extra ses.sion of Congress 
to meet on the 4th of July. Accordingly it convened on that 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 175 

date, and, after passing measures recommended b}' the Presi- 
dent, adjourned on the 6th of August. 

On the 17th of July, Congress passed an act authorizing a 
national loan for two hundred and fifty millions of dolhu-s. 
For the loan, coupon or registered bonds, or treasury notes, were 
to be issued — the bonds to bear seven per cent interest, and 
the treasury notes, of not less than fifty dollars each, interest at 
the rate of seven and three tenths per cent; or the Treasury 
might issue notes of less amount than fifty dollars, bearing no 
interest, or notes bearing three and sixty-five hundredths per 
cent; provided that no such note should be for less than ten dol- 
lars, and that the amount so issued should not exceed fiftj' mil- 
lions of dollars. On the 5th of August, Congress passed a 
supplemental act, authorizing the issue of Treasury notes of 
a denomination of not less than five dollars, and such notes 
payable on demand, without interest, not exceeding fifty mil- 
lions of dollars, and that they should be received in payment 
of public dues. 

In August, Congress passed an act for confiscating property 
in transit, or provided for transit, to or from insurrectionar}' 
States, or used for the promotion of insurrection. On the 16th 
the President issued a Proclamation declaring the seceding 
States to be in a state of insurrection, prohibiting all commer- 
cial intercourse between them and the other parts of the Union 
without special permission from the Government, under the 
penalty of the confiscation of all goods or vehicles conve}'ing 
them; and declaring that all vessels belonging wholly or in 
part to any citizen of the insurgent States found at sea, or in a 
part of the United States, after fifteen days from the date of the 
proclamation, to be forfeited to the United States. 

Postal communication with the Confederate States was ordered 
to be closed on the first of June, aud letters directed there to be 
sent to the dead-letter oSice. 

At this period there were about sixteen hundred banks in the 
United States. Their circulation, on the 1st of January, was 
estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury at two hundred 
and two millions of dollars; of this circulation, about one 
hundred and fifty millions were in the loyal States. 

Kansas was admitted into the Union on the 30th of January, 
with a constitution prohibiting slavery within her limits. On 
the 2d of March, Colorado, Nevada, aud Dakota were formed 
into Territories. 

The Pacific telegraph-line between St. Louis and San Fran- 
cisco was completed on the 25th of October. For the eastern 
part of the line the materials and tools were taken to Omaha, 
at which point everything was gathered in readiness to start 
westward. For that part of the line were employed four hun- 
dred men, fitted out for a hard campaign, with a rifle and a 
navy revolver for each man, and with the necessary provisions, 
including one hundred head of cattle for beef, to be driven with 
the train and killed as needed. For the transportation of the 
material and the supplies for this army of workmen, five hun- 



176 HISTORY OF THE UXITEB STATES. 

died oxen and mules, and over one hundred wagons were 
piu'chased by the company ; and these not pro\ing sufficient, 
other transportation was hired, making the total number of 
beasts of burden seven hundred oxen and one hundred pair of 
mules. The lirst pole was set up on the 4th of July, and the 
work to Salt Lake City proceeded to completion at the rate of 
about ten miles per day. At the same time that the work was 
progressing between Omaha and Salt Lake City, another partj- 
was building the western half of the line between the latter 
place and San Francisco, and the two divisions were completed 
about the same time. 

California was visited during the autumn and early winter 
by a disastrous flood. The streams, swollen by continued rains, 
flooded the valleys, inundated towns, swept away mills, dams, 
houses, and destroyed property to the estimated value of ten 
millions of dollars. The rains commenced early in November, 
and continued to fall without scarcely any cessation for four 
weeks. 

On the 14th of November, a destructive fire occun-ed at Con- 
cord, N. H., which laid a large part of the business portion of 
the city in ashes. A conflagration at Charleston, on the 11th of 
December, destroyed property in the business portion of the citj', 
of the value, as reported, of upwards of five millions of dollars. 

A submarine cable was successfully laid between Baltimore 
and Fortress Monroe, after a third trial. 

The feat of telegraphing from an aerial station was accom- 
plished, for the first time, by the aeronaut Mr. Lowe, who 
ascended in a balloon from the city of Washington, to the 
elevation of about six hundred feet. On the 10th of August, the 
aeronaut, Mr. La Montaine, ascended in a balloon from a tug- 
boat in Hampton Roads, to the height of three thousand feet, 
and successfully observed the position of the Confederate forces 
beyond Newport News and at Sewall's Point. On the 4th of 
October, Mr. La Montaine made another ascent in the service 
of the Union army on the Potomac. He roi-e to the height of 
one and a half miles, and was carried directly over the lines of 
the Confederate army, where, after making satisfactory observa- 
tions, he threw out ballast and ro.se to the height of three miles, 
at which elevation he struck a cun-ent of air which passed the 
balloon over Washington, and finalljMt^ descended in the State 
of Maryland. 

The first steel guns manufactured in this country were made 
at Trenton, and were ready for service on the 1st of July. 

The banks of Ncav York, Philadelphia, and Boston sus 
pended specie payments in December, in consequence of tbe 
withdrawal of large amounts of gold by depositors for the 
purpose of selling it at a premium. 

The market price per pound of Middling Uplands cotton in 
the New York market on the 1st of January was eleven and 
one half cents ; on tlie 1st of April, twelve and five eighths ; on 
the 1st of July, fourteen and five-eighths ; and on the first of 
October, twenty-one to t\\ enty-one and a half cents. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 177 

1862 ^Military operations in the West and Southwest commenced 
early in the year. Col. J. A. Gartield won a slight victory at 
Big Sandy River, in Eastern Kentucky, on the 9th of January. 
Ten days later, Gen. George H. Thomas secured one more 
decisive at Mill Spring, in tlie same region. The Confederate 
general Zollicoffer was killed there. Further operations in 
that locality were suspended by the commander of that depart- 
ment, Gen. Buell, to await the result of those directed by 
Gen. Halleck farther west. The latter sent Gen. Grant 
against Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, at the southern 
border of Kentucky ; the post was evacuated on the 6th of 
Fel)ruary, its garrison going to Fort Donelson, on the Cumber- 
land, in Northern Tennessee. Grant pursued with 30,000 men, 
and Commodore Foote co-operated with his gun-boats. Footc 
was wounded in an engagement the 14th ; a hard battle cjisued 
the 15th; and on the 16th, Gen. Buckner, commander, sur- 
rendered the fort, with 10,000 men as prisoners of war. 
This was by far the most brilliant and useful victory yet won 
by Union arms. It practically dislodged the Confederates from 
Kentucky and Tennessee without another stroke. Federal 
troops under Grant then occupied Pittsl)urg Landing, on the 
Tennessee, near Northwestern Mississijjpi. Here they were 
fiercely assaulted, April 6th, by a Confederate army under Gen. 
Albert Sidney Johnston, and nearly routed, though Johnston 
Avas killed. Buell's supporting column, advancing from Nash 
ville, arrived that night, and next day Grant was able to repel 
the enemy, who renewed the attack under Beaiu'egard. The 
losses on each side, the two days, were about 10,000— much the 
heaviest yet witnessed in this war. Upon withdrawing from 
Columbus, Ky., the Confederates had fortified at Island No. 10. 
in the Mississippi. Beset by Gen. John Pope, who had taken 
New Madrid, on the west bank, and by Commodore Foote's 
fleet, they surrendered April 7, after twenty-three days' bom- 
bardment. Union gim-boats were now able to go down to 
Memphis, Tenn., which city was peaceably occupied June 6th. 
While these operations were being conducted in Kentucky 
and Tennessee, Union troops led by Gen. Curtis crossed into 
Arkansas from Southwestern Missouri in March. He was 
vigorously attacked on the 6th and 7th at Pea Ridge, and held 
his ground. The enemy lost two generals, Mcintosh and Mc- 
Culloch, but in men the Union losses were heaviest, and 
Curtis's victory had no practical result. On the 19th of Sep- 
tember, Grant, assisted by Rosecrans, defeated Gen. Sterling 
Price at luka. Northeastern Mississijipi. Grant, with part of 
his troops, withdrew to La Grange, Tenn. , leaving Rosecrans 
to occupy Corinth, Miss., which Price evacuated. Price and 
Van Dorn attacked Rosecrans here, with superior munbers, 
October 3d and 4th ; but, after a stubborn fight, they fell back 
defeated. In December, Gen. Wm. Tecumseh Sherman moved 
down from Memphis to Chickasaw Bayou, on the Yazoo River, 
to threaten Vicksburg, Miss.; and Grant, from La Grange, 
further east, pushed into Mississippi to support the movement. 



178 HISTORY OF THE U>fITED STATES. 

The latter's communications were cut at Holly Springs by Van 
Dorn, the 30th, and he was obliged to retreat. Sherman was 
badly defeated on the 29tl), and precipitately took transports on 
the Mississi])pi River for Memphis. 

Tennessee and Kentucky were again contested this year. 
Gen. Kirby Smith led one Confederate force rapidly northward 
in August, taking Richmond, Ky., the 30th, and then Lexing 
ton, and the State capital, Frankfort. Gen. Bragg, with an 
other, advanced from Chattanooga, captured four thousand 
five hundred Union troops at Munifordsville, Tenn., September 
17th, and then tried to Join Smith and reach Louisville, Ky 
Cincinnati was saved by the exertions of Gen. Lew Wallace ; 
and Buell, coming up from Nashville, headed Bragg off, forc- 
ing him to retire. A severe Ijut rather indecisive engage- 
ment ensued at Perry ville, Ky., October 8th. Bragg then con- 
tinued his retreat, taking four thousand wagon-loads of spoils 
from the State. Rosecrans now succeeded Buell in command 
at Nashville. Bragg was thirty -two miles southeastward, at Mur- 
freesboro, near which, at Stone River, severe battles were 
fought, December 31st and January 2d (1863). Bragg was 
obliged to retire to Tullahoma for the winter. The losses at 
Stone River were ten thousand or twelve thousand on each 
side. Rosecrans received hearty official praise for his success. 

In the Shenandoah Valley, in March, General Banks had ad- 
vanced as far southward as Harrisonburg; but Stonewall Jack- 
son, entering the valley from the eastward at Front Royal, 
obliged him to hurry back to the Potomac. Fremont, by a 
similar mano?uvre, tried to force Jackson to retreat, but in vain. 

The Union blockading fleet in Hampton Roads, Va., was 
attacked March 8th by a strange-looking monster, fitted out at 
Norfolk. It was the iron-clad ram Vii'ginia, constructed from 
the hull of the old war-ship Merrimac. " The frigates Congress 
and Cumberland were sunk by it. The event created a panic 
in Northern seaports. The next day, however, the Virginia 
was met by a small new war rvessel called the Monitor, in- 
vented by John Ericsson, w^hich arrived in the night from the 
North. It was iron-clad, and had only a revolving turret, con- 
taining heavy guns above deck. Thi's craft, after a five hours' 
contest, put the Virginia to fiight. This brilliant event revolu- 
tionized naval architecture, and opened ji^new route to Rich- 
mond for the Union army. 

McClellan had designed advancing upon the Confederate 
capital from the nortli; and in March began pusliing forward 
from the vicinity of Washington, with 300,000 men. He had 
reached the Rappahanock River without serious resistance, when 
the War Department compelled him to change his plans. Leav 
iug Pope in command on the Rappahannock, he took 130,000 
troops by water around to Fortress Monroe, whence, April 4th, 
he pushed northeastward. A siege reduced Yorktown May 4th, 
and opened most of the peninsula between the James and York 
rivers to him. Victories at Williamsburg and West Point en- 
abled him to reach the Chickahominy River before the close of 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 179 

the month. Having crossed it, he pressed on to Fair Oaks (or 
Seven Pines), within seven miles of Richmond, where the enemj' 
gave battle the 81st and June 1st. After a hard and bloody 
struggle the Confederates gave way. Their commander, John- 
ston, was badly wounded. General Robert E. Lee succeeded him, 
and retained the chief leadership through the rest of the war. 
McClellan, instead of following up the enemy, now paused to 
build bridges and roads, and to shift his base from the York to 
the James River. General Wood had facilitated this by occupy- 
ing Norfolk, from Fortress Monroe. McClellan asked for rein- 
forcements at Washington at this juncture, but did not get them. 
Lee, at this time, had but 25,000 men near Richmond, although 
his force was estimated at much more. He summoned Stone- 
wall Jackson's force from the Shenandoah Valley, and, thus 
recruited, assumed the offensive. At Oak Grove, June 25th, he 
gave battle, without result; renewed the attack, next day, at 
Mechanicsville, and was repulsed; delivered another blow the 
27th, at Gaines's Mill, forcing Fitz Jolin Porter to give way; did 
little tightiug the 28th; struck the Union forces, both at Savage 
Station, where Sumner's corps held its ground firmly, and at 
White Oak Swamp the 29th. Hostilities were less fierce next 
day. Meantime, McClellan was retreating toward James River. 
Here, at Malvern Hill, twelve miles below Richmond, came 
the most terrible battle of the Peninsular campaign — the last 
of the Seven Days' Fight. Lee charged the concentrated Union 
army July 1st, repeatedly and desperately, but could not dis- 
lodge it. Ten days later, General H. W. Halleck was made 
general-in-chief at Washington. He soon directed McClellan 
to bring back his army, by water, to the Potomac. The trans- 
fer was gradually effected late in August. 

Lee continued the aggressive, and startled the North. Banks 
was first defeated, and prevented from helping Pope. The lat- 
ter was flanked by Stonewall Jackson, who occupied Manassas, 
capturing valuable stores. Here Pope, who had fallen back 
from the Rappahannock, attacked him, August 28th and 29th, 
hoping to rout him before Lee could come up. The neglect of 
Fitz-John Porter to support Pope, as direclcd, made this scheme 
a fiiilure, and the second battle of Manassas, like the first (in 
1861), was a Union disaster. Porter was tried by court-martial, 
and dismissed from the .service. At Chantilly, the Union troops 
were again defeated, and Generals Kearney and Stevens were 
killed. Pope and his shattered force having retreated to 
Washington, Lee advanced without resistance through Freder- 
ick and Hagerstown, Md., captured Harper's Ferrj', and 
threatened the national capital. McClellan, whose magnetism 
had made him the idol of the Army of the Potomac, and who had 
shown great mastery of military art in organizing the raw, un- 
disciplined troops which liad been given him, had planned a 
campaign against Richmond early in the ,year, from the north. 
With great reluctance he yielded to the command from Wash- 
ington to abandon it and to undertake the Peninsular campaign. 
This opened "with great promise, but ended in disaster. The 



180 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

result, he felt, was due to the refusal of the War Department ta 
give him needed reinforcements. The Nortli, however, not 
knowing the merits of the case, but greatly disappointed in the 
apparent results, judged him severely. When Halleck, sum- 
moned in July from St. Louis to Washington to direct all the 
military operations of the country, ordered McClellan up from 
the Peninsula to Acquia Creek, on the lower Potomac, the latter 
was left there inactive, in disgrace. But when Pope was routed 
at Bull Run, and Maryland was invaded, the hero of Fair Oaks 
promptly interposed the Army of the Potomac between Wash- 
ington and the enem}', and reached out to the westward, feeling 
for the latter. He was fortunate enough to capture a general 
order of Lee's, September 12th, which revealed tbe whole Con- 
federate plan. Harper's Perry was the principal objective point; 
and the force thrown out towards Washington was a rear-guard 
for the rest of the Confederate army. On the 14th, this body 
was attacked by Generals Hatch and Doubleday on South Moun- 
tain, and defeated with considerable loss. Franklin also won a 
victory at another gap in the same ridge. The enemj' fell back 
on Sharpsburg, but meantime continued the movement against 
Harper's Ferry, which fell next day. Just west of South 
Mountain, Antietam Creek runs southwardly into the Potomac. 
Along this stream McClellan now formed his forces for a deci- 
sive contiict. On the l6th. Hooker crossed the stream, got 
around to the northward of Lee, and secured an advantageous 
position. Next day the two armies came together at Antietam 
Creek. Hooker began the battle on the right, and Burnside on 
the left. Porter, near the centre, was kept in reserve until late 
in the day Mansfield, Sumner, and Franklin weie to support 
Hooker. One of the most bitterly contested spots on the field 
was a cornfield in Hooker's front Before night it was literallj^ 
soaked with blood. Ricketts' and Meade's divisions first drove 
Stonewall Jackson's division across this tract into the woods, 
with great loss on both sides. Hood coming to Jack.son s aid, 
sent them back with equal carnage. Mansfield now reinforced 
the Union line, but was struck down, fatally wounded. Hooker 
rallied the combined corps, but was driven from the field b}^ a 
painful wound in the foot. Sumner now took command, and 
brought up fresh troops. Sedgwick now regained the corn- 
field. He, too, was wounded thrice, andjorccd personally to 
retire, and his division at length came back over the bloody soil. 
Franklin's corps now came up, and Smith's division for a th.ird 
time took tiie cornfield, with terrible losses on both sides. (.4cod 
work was done near the centre now by French and llichardson 
Burnside had pushed out toward Sharpsburg, in the morning; 
but Lee was reinforced by his troops at Hai'per's Ferry, and 
drove the Union left back in confusion. General Rodman, 
while rallying his di\ision, fell mortally wounded, and ^IcClel- 
lan claimed the result of the day's conflict as a Union victory, 
although his lines had been advanced but little. The losses 
were not far from 10,000 on each side. The next day, McClel 
Ian prepared for another advance on the 19th- but when the 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 181 

second day dawned, Lee had disappeared from his front, and 
was back in Virginia. Pursuit was given cautiously, but not 
another l>Iow was strucli. A Confederate cavalry force under 
General J. E. B. Stuart made a complete circuit around the 
Army of the Potomac about this time, and returned to Virginia 
in safety. McClellan's failure to attack soon after the battle of 
Antietam excited fresh unfavorable criticism, and, in Xovem 
ber, while his line was extended along the Rappahannock, he 
was replaced in command by General Buruside. This officer, 
before sharing in the battle of Antietam, had co operated with 
Commodore Goldsboro in the capture of Roanoke Island. This 
he had followed up by occupying Newberne and Beaufort, 
N. C. The new commander of the Army of the Potomac 
threw his force across the Rappahannoclc in December. Lee 
waited until the work was done. Then, the 13th, he terribly 
assailed the Union lines. He was bravelj' but ineffectually met. 
Two nights later Burnside quietly withdrew. 

General Gillmore, April 11th, captured Fort Pulaski, at the 
mouth of the Savannah River. Admiral Farragut, after a week 
of hard fighting on the Mississippi, took the forts below New 
Orleans, and landed General Butler's troops in that city, April 
25th. 

In February, Congress passed an act for the additional issue 
of Treasury notes. By it ten millions of dollars in notes for a 
less denomination than five dollars were authorized to be issued, in 
addition to the fifty millions previously authorized . These issues 
were to be receivable for all payments, including customs, that 
might be due to the government. On the 35th of February, the 
President approved what was called the Legal Tender 'Act, 
passed by Congress. By it, the Secretary of the Treasury was 
authorized to issue notes to the amount of one hundred ancl fifty 
millions of dollars, not bearing interest, payable in Washington 
and New York, none to be less than five dollar-;, bat fifty 
millions of dollars of these to be in lieu of the same amount of 
Treasury notes issued under the act of July 17, 1831, which 
were to be taken up as soon as practicable. These note-; were 
to be a legal tender for all debts, public and private, and to be 
receiv^ed and paid out by the government for all purposes except- 
ing duties on imports and interest on the pu')lic debt; those 
were to be paid in gold. The bill also authorized the issue of 
Treasury bands to the amount of five hundred millions of dol- 
lars, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent, payable semi- 
annually, redeemable at the pleasure of the government after 
twenty years from date. These bonds, and all other securities 
of the United States, to be exempt from taxation by any State 
or county. In July another bill was passed authorizing another 
issue of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars of Treasury 
notes. 

By an act of Congress passed in April, slaver\^ was abolished 
in the District of Columbia. The act provided for a commis- 
sion to remunerate loyal owners. Not over three hundred 
dollars a slave were to be paid, and one million of dollars were 



182 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

appropriated for the purpose. One Imudred Ihousand dollars 
^/ere also appropriated for their colonization. An act was also 
passed abolishing slavery in the "Territories of the United 
States now existing, or which may al any time hereafter he 
formed or acquired by the United States." 

In July, Congress passed an act to collect an internal revenue. 
A tax was to be imposed upon domestic manufactures, trades, 
and occupations, and it provided a system of stamps, licenses, 
income, and other duties. A tax averaging three per cent on 
manufactured articles was imposed, most of which were enu- 
merated; of those enumerated, distilled spirits were to pay 
twenty cents per gallon; ales, one dollar per barrel. Licenses, 
varying from five to two hundred dollars, were imposed upon 
almost every profession; stamps, from three (^entsto one dollar 
upon the paper used for bills of exchange, and from one to twenty 
dollars upon conveyances of real estate. The income-tax to be 
three per cent on the excess over six hundred dollars of all in- 
comes up to ten thousand dollars, and five per cent on those 
greater. 

On the 1st of July the President approved an act of Congress 
granting aid for the construction of a line of railroad from 
the Missouri River to the Pacilic Ocean. The act granted a 
subsidy of sixteen thousand dollars in government bonds, per 
mile, for that portion of the line between the Missouri Ri^'er and 
the base of the Rockj^ Mountains; forty-eight thousand dollars 
per mile for a distance of one hundred and fifty miles through 
the mountain range ; thirty-two thousand dollars per mile between 
the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada range; forty-eight 
thousand dollars per mile across that range, a distance of one 
hundred and fifty miles; and thirty-two lihousand dollars per 
mile for the California section. This subsidy was to be a first 
lien upon the railroad. By subsequent legislation, that sub- 
sidy was made a second mortgage, and gave the railroad com- 
pany a right to issue a first mortgage to secure its ov/n bonds 
for an amount equal to those of the government issue. The 
act also granted to the company a right of way, four hundred 
feet in width, for the whole distance, and a grant of twelve 
thousand eight hundred acres of land, on the line of the road, 
for each mile of the railway constructed. 

The President, on the 17th of July, approved an act of 
Congress confiscating the property and emancipating the slaves 
of all rebels in arms after sixty days, if they did not submit; 
and on the 25th, he issued a proclamation warning all such per- 
.sons to return to their allegiance, under pain of the penalties 
provided for in the act. The bill provided that any person that 
should be convicted of treason woidd be punished by death, 
or, at the discretion of the coiu't, by imprisonment for not less 
than five years, and a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars; 
his slaves in either case to be set free. Any person engaging 
in or aiding rebellion to be punished by imprisonment not ex 
ceedingten years, or a fine not exceeding-ten Ihousand dollars, or 
both; his slaves to be set free. Persons found to be guilty of 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 183 

treason to be incapable of holding- anj^ office under the United 
States. It also provided for th;j seizure of the property of per- 
sons holding certain specified civil, naval, or military offices rai- 
der the Southern Confederac^y. Slaves of any person engaged 
in rebellion, coming in any way into the power of the United 
States forces, were to be considered prisoners of war, and not 
again held as slaves. No fugitive slave should be given up, 
unless the claimant made oath that he had not been engaged in re- 
bellion. By the act, the President was authorized to employ 
persons of African descent for the suppression of the rebellion, 
and he might make provision for the colonization of such freed 
slaves as he should deem expedient. 

In July, Congress passed an act increasing duties on imports; 
also a bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish 
postage and other stamps to the depositories of the United 
States, to be exchanged for notes, and forbade the issue by anj- 
one of tokens, or of checks for less than a dollar, to circulate 
as money. 

On the 1st of July the President, in response to the official 
request of the Governors of eighteen States, issued a call for 
three hundred thousand additional men for the army. On the 
4th of August an order was issued from the War Department, 
directing that a draft of three hundred thousand more men 
should be called into the service of the United States, to serve 
for nine months, unless previously discharged; and also direct- 
ing that if any State should not, by the loth of August, furnish 
its quota of the three hundred thousand volunteers pre\iously de- 
manded, and authorized by law, the deficiency would also be 
made up by a special draft from tlie militia. T'he six hundred 
thousaTid men directed to be furnished bj' these orders would 
bring the effective force in the tield up to full}' a million. It 
was expected that the special bounties for enlistments which 
were being offered by the different States would probal)ly 
furnish all the three hundred thousand volunteers ii\ithout the 
necessity of recourse to drafting. 

On the 8th of August, the writ of habeas corpus was ordered 
to be suspended. Orders were also issued for the arrest of all 
persons who discouraged enlistments. Another oider prohibitefl 
the issuance of passports, and newspaper coi'resjiondents were 
not to be allowed with the armies. 

On the 22(1 of September, President Lincoln issued a procla- 
mation abolishing slaverj' in the Southern States, unless they re- 
turned to the Union before the 1st of January following. On 
the 24th he issued another proclamation suspending the habeas 
eorptts in respect to persons held by military authority. This 
was done to prevent the release of military and state prisoners. 

On the 22d of November, a general order was issued by the 
government for the release of all state prisoners. 

On the 31st of December, an act passed by Congress for the 
admission of West Virginia, as a State, into the Union, was 
approved by the President. 

The water- works at New Haven were completed on the 1st 



184 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

of January, and the inliabitauts supplied with water from Mill 
River. 

Late in the summer the State of jVIinnesota was the scene of 
Indian cruelties and atrocities, so much so as to compel the 
Governor of the State to call an extra session of the legislature 
for means to be adopted to stop them. United States troops 
under General Pope were also despatched in the emergency. 
In September, a large body of the Indians was overtaken ;it 
Wood Lake and, after a sharp battle, about Ave hundred of 
the savages were taken prisoners, and after being tried by court- 
martial, three hundred of them were sentenced to be hung, liuf 
the President directed that but thirty-eight of them should be 
executed, and the remainder placed in confinement. By this 
insmTcctlon it was estimated that not less than three hundretl 
whites were killed, and two and a half millions of dollars in 
property destroyed. For some months between six and seven 
thousand persons, mostly women and children, were dependent 
upon charity. 

On the lOth of May, a conflagration destroyed propertj' at 
Troy valued at three millions of dollars, including six hundred 
and seventy -one buildings, among which were the Union Rail- 
road depot and several churches. Seven lives were lost. The 
steamer Golden Gate, which left San Francisco on the 
21st of July, was destroyed by fire on the 27th, oil the Mexican 
coast, near Manzanilla. The passengers and crew, numbering 
about two hxmdred persons, were mostl}' lost. The treasure on 
board, amounting to nearly a million and a half of dollars, was 
also lost. On the night of the 13th of Augiist, the steamer 
"West Point, having on board many sick soldiers, came in col- 
lision with another steamer, on James River, Va., and was 
sunk, carrying down with her about seventy-five persons. 

The price of printing paper, of ordinarj^ news quality, was 
advanced in the autumn froju nine cents a pound to twenty- 
two. Early in the year the price of fine writing pnpcrs was ad- 
vanced from thirteen and fourteen cents per pound to sc\"enteen 
cents for flat cap, and from fifteen to twentj-five cents for letter 
and note paper. 

The price of cotton having advanced to an enormous price, 
the manufacture of twine from paper was commenced. 

The price of Middling Uplands cotton in the New York 
market, on the 1st of Januarj', was tliifly-five and a half cents 
per pound; on the 1st of April, twenty-eight; on the 1st of 
July, thirty-eight and a half; and on the 1st of October, fifty- 
seven. 

Gold was first quoted at a premium on the 12th of April. 
On the 1st of October it was 123. 
1863 General Banks, who succeeded Butler at New Orleans, ex- 
tended his lines, early in the year, into Southern and Central 
Louisiana. He also advanced to Baton Rouge and, in May, 
laid siege to Port Hudson, a stronghold on the Mississippi 
River. Severe but unsuccessful' p>saul1s were made on the 
town, the bombardment being partly conducted by Farra gut's 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 185 

gunboats. In September, Banks made an unsuccessful at- 
tempt to get into Texas, by water, at Sabine Pass. That State 
remained in Confederate hands through the war. In January, 
Sherman sent McClernand, with Porter's tleet, up the Arkau^^as 
River. On the 10th, they took Arliansas Post and t1\'e thou- 
sand prisoners, after a hard battle. Two days before, Confede- 
rates, under Generals Marmaduke and Price, attacked Spring- 
field, Mo., and were repulsed; they had a similar fate at 
Hartsville, Mo., on the 11th, and at Cape Girardeau, April 26th. 
A Confederate raiding party, led by Quantrell, burned Law- 
rence, Kansas, August 13th. General Steele led a Union force 
into Little Rock, September 10th, and thereafter Arkansas re- 
mained in his control. 

Early in the year, for three months. Grant operated against 
Vicksburg, from the region just north of it, trying to cut a canal 
across the neck of land where it stands, to let the gunboats past. 
This enterprise failed Accordingly Porter decided to run the 
batteries, which he did at night, April 16th, without serious 
damage. The scen^ was terrible and magnificent, however. 
Six ironclads, one wooden gunboat, and three transports, 
dropped down the stream quietly, under cover of darkness. 
But thcw^atchful Confederate picket discovered their a])proacli, 
and in a few minutes a whole row of batteries along the 1)1 uft" 
w^as flashing and quaking with thunderous discharge. The 
fleet returned the fire, and silenced a few of the enemy's guns. 
The roar was deafening, and startled the town of Vicksburg as 
it had never been startled before. One of the transports was 
struck and disabled, but towed off by a gunboat. Another 
got by unscathed. The third was set afire by a shell striking 
cotton bales piled up for defence on board of her, and she was 
abandoned. Five more transports then ran down safely, but a 
sixth was rendered helpless and sunk. Grant now moved his 
land forces across to the west bank and marched them down 
stream. On the 39th the fleet opened a fearful cannonade on 
Grand Gulf, below Vicksburg, to capture the place that Grant 
might return here to Mississippi. The Confederate position 
was too strong and too well ilefended for this attempt to suc- 
ceed. The next day, however, the Army of the Tennessee was 
brought over, a little lower down, to Bruinsburg. Here a 
brilliant campaign against Vicksburg was begun. In rapid 
succession he won victories at Port Gibson, forcing the evacua 
lion of Grand Gulf, at Raymond, and then at Jackson, the 
capital city. This last ended Johnston's effort to reinforce 
General Pemberton in the beleaguered city. Pemberton made a 
rally, but was defeated at Champion Hills, May 16th. Grant 
won iuiother victory at Black River bridge next day. On the 
19th and 32d, heavy assaults on the town were i-epulsed with 
great carnage. Grant now settled down to a siege. Porter as- 
sisting by a heavy bombardment. Starved out, Pemberton 
surrendered July 4th. Learning of this event, General Gard- 
ner yielded Port Hudson to Banks on the 8th. The whole 
Mississippi River was now open. During the operations against 



180 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Vicksburg, Grierson's Illinois cavalry made a clash from Ten- 
nessee, east of Jackson, to Baton Rouge, destroying railroads 
and other property. Colonel Streight attempted a like raid into 
Georgia, but was captured by the Confederates under Forrest. 
General John ]\Iorgan, a daring Southern cavalryman, in the 
summer pushed up through Kentucky, crossed into Indiana, 
passing thence to Ohio, where he vpas caught. 

General Joseph Hooker, who had done effective service at 
Antietam, succeeded Burnside in command of the Army of the 
Potomac after the disaster at Fredericksburg. In the spring 
he crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Just south 
of the latter, at Chancellorsville, May 2d, his army received an 
attack of terrible fury. In this battle Stonewall Jackson was 
fatally wounded by a volley from his own men. Lee renewed 
the assault next day. Hooker held his ground for the time, 
but retreated on the 5th. His loss was seventeen thousand ; the 
Confederates lost five thousand. Just before this event, Gen- 
eral Stonenian took his cavalry (Union) across the Rappahan- 
nock, dashed down within sight of Richmond, cut Lee's com- 
munications, and returned in safety. May 8th. 

Lee now gave the North another great fright. He pushed 
up across the Potomac, reached Chambersburg, Pa., June 
22d, and threatened Washington, Baltimore, and Harrisburg. 
Hooker, whose tlank had been turned, followed rapidly. The 
two armies concentrated at Gettysburg, Pa., for a momentous 
battle. Here Hooker, at his own request, was relieved of 
his command. General George Meade succeeded him. The 
initial contest occurred Jul,y 1st. Meade was considerably 
south of the town, looking" for advantageous ground on 
which to receive Lee. But Buford's troopers and Wads- 
worth's division of Reynolds's corps, in pushing forward 
to Seminary Ridge, just west of Gettysburg, came in collision 
with part of the Confederate corps under Hill. After an 
engagement was begun, Reynolds brought up his other divi- 
sion, but was himself killed b.y a sharp-shooter. General 
Doubleday then took command until Howard arrived with an- 
other corps. But Hill was reinforced by Ewell ; and after a 
brave resistance the Union line was driven back. The advan- 
tage was not follo^vcd up, except that the Confederates entered 
the town without opposition. Howai;xiJook a position to the 
southward, on Cemetery Hill, where General Sickles, coming 
up with his corps at night, joined him. Meade, then at Tane_\"- 
town, sent Hancock forward to take command, leaving Gibbous 
to bring that general's corps to the front. Hancock" disposed 
the troops in a horse-shoe shaped line. Cemetery Hill, nearest 
Gettysburg, being the toe. Round Top the western heel, and 
Wolf Hill the eastern heel or right wing. Next day the rest of 
the Union army was brought up ; and Lee was congregating 
north and west of Gettysburg. Sedgwick was posted on the 
extreme left on Round Top ; Sickles came next a little farther 
north; Hancock had the centre on Cemetery Hill, looking 
northward ; Slocum was on the right. Lee was again the ag- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 181 



gressor, July 2d, although not much was done but to as;^ 
Sickles's corps, which liad exposed itself by advancing fn 



sail 
rom 
the position Meade had designed it to occupy. To that gi-ound 
it was driven back with lioavy loss. Slocum received a slight 
attack that day, but with no material result. The great battle 
came on the morrow. During the forenoon Lee got his artillery 
into position for a terrible concentrated tire on Cemetery Hill, 
the chief point of attack ; and shortly after noon these one 
hundred and tifteen pieces began belching forth their torrent of 
tire and iron. The Union artillery replied , but the guns be- 
coming heated, their activity abatecl. Lee now threw forward 
a solid line of infantry, nearly three miles long, charging not 
only the Union front on Cemetery Hill, but the left wing 
around on Roiuid Top. These advances were made with 
wonderful nerve and force. They were repelled with awful 
carnage, and renewed with appalling coolness and courage. 
The desperate struggle lasted for three hours. Each time 
the enemy came on, the Union line would recede slightlj" 
imtil the Confederates caught the entiladiug fire of Meade's 
guns ; and then the flower of Lee's army would be mown down 
like grass. The assault failed, and the invader had no resort 
but to return to Virginia, and on July 4th, while Pemberton 
was surrendering Vicksburg to Grant, the demoralized rebel 
horde was hurrying back to a place of safety. The losses in 
this battle were twenty -three thousand on the Union side, and 
even more on the other. Sickles lost a leg, and Hancock also 
was wounded at Gettysburg. Lee made another effort to get 
north in October, but was checked at Centreville. 

Rosecrans remained inactive in Tennessee for six months 
after his victory at Stone River. Late in June he began a series 
of flank movements, which crowded Bragg southeastward into 
Georgia, anil occupied Chattanooga. The Confederates, out- 
numbering him seventy thousand to fifty-five thousand, turned 
and struck him severely at Chickamauga Creek, Sept. 19th and 
20th. General Thomas's corps withstood th(> attack firmly, 
and saved the Union army from utter rout. The other corps 
were driven back in disorder. Thomas finally withdrew to 
the Tennessee River into Chattanooga, where the Army of the 
Cumberland was strongly intrenched. This triumph of Bragg 
gave new joy to the South, and caused much anxiety in Wash- 
ington, as there was some uncertainty whether even Chatta- 
nooga could now be held. During liis Vicksburg campaign. 
Grant had advised demonstrations bj' Rosecrans earlier than 
July, so as either to call olf such of Bragg's troops as had been 
sent into Mississippi to help Johnston, or to invade Georgia 
while Bragg was himself weakenetl. But Bragg was able to 
strengthen himself by recovering his forces from the west be- 
fore his attack at Chickamauga ; for this was two months and 
a half after Vicksburg fell. He was still further recruited by 
Longstreet's corps from Virginia. 

In October, the authorities at Washington created "the 
Division of the Central Mississippi," embracing the Depart- 



188 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

merit of the Tennessee, whose armj' had done the work 
about Vicksbiivg, the D.epartnient of the Cumberland, com- 
manded by Rosecraus, and the Department of the Ohio, 
then under Burnside, who was at Knoxville, Tenn. The 
whole was committed to Grant, the hero of Vicksburg. Grant 
recognized the great strategic value of Chattanooga, and be- 
fore reaching that point in person, telegraphed to Thomas, 
who succeeded Rosecrans in command of the AiTuy of the 
Cumberland, to hold the place at all hazards. Burnside, at 
Knoxville, was in considerable peril at this time ; but Grant 
decided that he could best relieve him by defeating Bragg at 
Chattanooga ; and all efforts were devoted to this work. The 
little town on the Tennessee, close to the border of Georgia, 
was now the centre of all interest. Hooker, whose great valor 
and impetuosity had won hiiB the pseudonym of "Fighting 
Joe Hooker," was sent from the Army of the Potomac with 
parts of two corps into Tennessee. Grant had ordered Sher- 
man, who succeeded him in command of the Army of the 
Tennessee, to repair the railroads in Northern Mississippi and 
Alabama, and in Western and Southern Tennessee, so as to 
improve the facilities for sending supplies to Chattanooga and 
Knoxville. But after considerable work had been done. Grant 
grew impatient to strike a blow at Chattanooga. As Bragg had 
detached Longstreet's corps and had sent it eastward of Chatta- 
nooga up to Knoxville, it seemed possible that Burnside, who 
was making a heroic and skilful resistance, might be overcome 
before Grant could assist him. Accordingly Sherman was 
ordered to drop work on the railroads and come with his troops 
to the scene of action. Meantime such dispositions of troops 
had been made around Chattanooga as to open up the way for 
rations ; and the starving, ragged army of Thomas was again 
well fed, well clothed, cheerful, and courageous. Just south of 
the Tennessee River is a long narrow hill known as Missionar}^ 
Ridge. Otf to the eastward is Chickamauga Creek, running- 
northward into the Tennessee. West of the ridge is Chatta- 
nooga Creek, also northward bound ; and across the valley rises 
Lookout Mountain, another loftier range, which, like Mission- 
ary Ridge, trends away to the southwest ward. In October, 
Hooker had been thrown across the river from the north, Avest 
of Lookout Mountain, and, after some fighting, he gained a 
good foothold there. One of the amusing incidents of that 
task was the alarm given to a force of Confederates, in a night 
engagement, by the rattling harness of mules which frightened 
Union teamsters had cut from their wagons, but which stam- 
peded toward the enemy's camp. Hooker held the right of 
Grant's line. Thomas was at the centre in Chattanooga, ^n the 
south bank of the river, just west of the head of Missionary 
Ridge. To the east and north of that mountain, on Grant's 
left, Sherman was to operate when he came up. This was not 
until late in November. On the morning of the 34th, long 
before daybreak, part of Sherman's men were brought down 
into their position, on pontoons from up stream, off to the 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 189 

northeastward, having come around in Grant's rear. They 
built bridges quickly, north of Missionary Ridge, and got 
artillery, Sheridan's cavalrj^, and the rest of the infantry across. 
An advance was then made upon the enemy's works at the foot 
of the hill, and, after some desperate fighting, an advantageous 
position was secured. Grant stood on top of an eminence 
called Orchard Knob, watching operations with a glass. Con- 
siderable cloudiness obscured tbe view through the forenoon ; 
but he could get occasional glimpses of what was going on, 
and had better hints from the noise of musketry and artillery. 
Thomas, whose army Grant was not ready to use, stood beside 
him much of the time. Hooker, off to the westward, achieved 
the principal conquest of the day. His movements were con- 
cealetl from Bragg's watchmen on Lookout Mountain by the 
low clouds. But when, in force, he approached that ridge on 
its western flank, the enemy's pickets discovered him, and 
resistance was promptly offered. The slope was steep, broken, 
and wooded, and difficult to climb even if no foe were there. 
But such enthusiasm pervaded the Union ranks that they 
charged up the mountain until, at 2 p.m., its very summit was 
reached. This action has been called "The Battle above the 
Clouds." Next day (Nov. 35th), the Union advance was re- 
newed. Hooker came eastward across the valley to Missionary 
Ridge, but was so long delayed by the enemy's destruction of 
bridges over Chattanooga Creek, that his co-operation was not 
of much assistance. Grant was again on Orchard Knob watch 
ing the scene. The day was clear. Thomas was beside him, 
his army still waiting for the order to strike. Grant did not 
intend to give this until Sherman had turned Bragg's right as 
Hooker had turned the left. Part of Sherman's force was on 
the eastern flank of Missionary Ridge, near the head, and part 
on the western. Both soon carried some positions in their 
front. Bragg concentrated his troops at this point, massing 
hea\ily against Sherman. Such was the latter's peril, that 
Grant sent Sheridan's and Wood's divisions to the scene, with 
material effect. Sherman now carried the ridge gallantly, and 
sent Bragg flying. Sheridan, continuing pursuit, dashed off to 
the southeastward, near Chickamauga Creek, intercepted part 
of the retreating army, and took a lot of prisoners and stores. 
The Union loss in the two days' fight was five thousand six- 
hundred men. Bragg lost more heavily, but chiefly in prison- 
ers. The victory gave great relief to the anxious Noilh, espc- 
ciallj' to the authorities in Washington. The fruits of past 
victories were secui'e ; the enemy were driven still finther south, 
into the Gulf States ; and an important step had been gained 
in encircling what was left of the Confederacy. The campaign 
had been one of the most difficult and skilfully planned which 
the Union forces had waged ; and its result inspired increased 
confidence in the generalship of Grant. Coming in the same 
year with Vicksburg, and after the disappointments in Virginia, 
it led to Grant's promotion to the full command of the Union 
armies three months later. Burnside, who had been sadlv 



190 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 

beleaguered, but bad beid out successfully, was easily relieved 
after the victories of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. 
Sberman was sent to bis assistance ; but before help arrived 
Longstreet was retreating into Virginia. 

The Confederate cruiser Nashville was sunk by a Union iron- 
clad, while running the blockade at the mouth of the Savannah 
River in March. Another, the Georgia, was captured at sea 
by the Niagara, Captain Craven, August 11th. Many other 
captures, less conspicuous, were made by the fleet. Dupont 
tried to take Charleston, in April, with a naval expedition, but 
failed. In June, General Gillmore and Admiral Dahlgren laid 
siege to the forts in that harbor, in June, from Morris and 
Folly Islands. Fort Wagner was vainly stormed, July 18th. 
That work and Fort Gregg were evacuated September 6th. 
Monitors then came wp and bombarded Fort Sumter. 

On the 1st of January, the Presiaent issued an Emancipation 
Proclamation. It specified Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (cer- 
tain parishes excepted), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia (West Virginia 
and other portions excepted), as the rebellious States to which 
the proclamation applied. The excepted parts were " for the 
present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued." 
It then declared as follows: " And by virtue of the power and 
for the purpose aforesaid. I do order and declare that all per- 
sons held as slaves within said States or parts of States are and 
hencefoi'th shall be free, and that the executive government 
of the United States, including the military and naval authori- 
ties thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said 
persons. And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared 
free, to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self- 
defence; and I recommend to them that in all cases, when al 
lowed, they labor for reasonable wages. And I further 
declare and make known that such persons, of suitable condi- 
tion, will be received into the armed service of the United 
States, to gari'ison forts, positions, stations, and other places, 
and to man vessels of all sorts in said service. And upon this 
act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice warranted by the 
Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the consid- 
erate judgment of mankind and favor of Almighty God." The 
number of slaves declared free by this proclamation was about 
three millions and one hundred and tweiify thousand ; the num- 
ber excepted by it, about eight hundred and thirty thousand. 
Partly by waj' of anticipating this proclamation, Mr. Davis, 
as President of the Confederate States, issued a proclamation 
on the 22d of December, in which, among other orders, he 
directed that negro slaves captured in arms should be delivered 
over to the authorities of the States to which they belong, to be 
dealt with according to the laws of those States; and all com- 
missioned officers of the United States, when found ser\ing in 
company with insurgent slaves, should be treated in the same 
manner. As the laws of all the slaveholding States punished 
hy death insurgent slaves and those who aided them, this order 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 191 

was equivalent to threatening capital punishment to all slaves 
in arms and the white officers commanding them. 

On the 3d of March, the President approved a financial 
bill passed by Congress. The tirst section of the act author- 
ized a loan of three hundred millions for the current fiscal 
year, and six hundred millions for the ensuing fiscal year, for 
which bonds should be issued, to 1)e payable at such times as 
the Secretary of the Treasury might elect, not less than ten nor 
more than forty years. The second section authorized the 
issue of Treasury notes to the amount of four hundred mil- 
lions, to run not more than three years, and bear interest at the 
rate of six per cent, and to be legal tender. The third section 
authorized the Secretary to issue one hundred and fifty millions 
of Treasury notes without interest. The bill also authorized 
the issue of fractional currency to the amount of fiftj^ millions. 
To help a market for the bonds, another act was passed author- 
izing the creation of jSTational Banks. By it, banking associa- 
tions could be formed by any number of persons not less than 
five. Not less than one third of the capital of the banks paid 
in should be invested in United States bonds, for which circu- 
lating notes to the value of ninety per cent of the current value 
of such bonds might be issued to the banks, the government to 
hold the bonds in ti'ust, as security for those issues, the total 
amount of the bank-notes not to exceed three hundred millions; 
and they were made lawful money for all purposes excepting 
custom duties and interest on the public debt. The banks were 
to pay the government semi-annually one per cent on the cir- 
culating notes to pay the expenses of making them. 

Congress passed another act, commonly called the "Con- 
scription Act." By it, it was provided that all able-bodied 
male citizens, and persons of foreign birth who had declared 
their intention of becoming citizens, and who had voted be- 
tween the ages of twenty and forty-five, were liable to be called 
into service, unless specially excepted. The exceptions wore 
those who were physically or mentally incapable, a few .speci- 
fied officers of the National and State Governments, and the 
following classes of persons: the only son of a widow cr of 
aged or infirm parents, dependent on his labor for support ; 
when there were two or more sons of aged or infirm parents', 
dependent upon them for support, the father, or if he be dead 
the mother, might select one who should be exempt; the only 
brother of children without father or mother, under twelve 
years of age, dependent upon him for support; the father 
of motherless children under twelve years of age, dependent 
upon his labor for .support; where of the same famUy and 
household a father and one or more sons in the military sei'vice 
of the United States, two of the same family and household 
are to be exempt. Those per.sons liable to conscription were 
to be divided into two classes ; the first class comprising all 
below thirty five years of age, and all unmarried persons be- 
tween thirty-five and forty -five years of age. The second class 
comprised married persons between thirty-five and forty-five, 



192 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

and were not to be called into service until the first class had 
been exhausted. It was also pro^^ded that anj^ person actually 
drafted might be discharged from draft by furnishing an ac- 
ceptable substitute, or by pajing a sum not exceeding three 
hundred dollars, to be fixed by the Secretary of War. The 
entire population of the loyal Slates, at the breaking out of the 
war, liable to enrolment under the Conscription law, after 
deducting all exemptions, was fully four millions. Another 
act empowered the President to issue letters of marque and 
reprisal. 

On the 15th of June, the President issued a call for one hun- 
dred thousand volunteers to repel the invasion by the Confed- 
erates. On the 15th of October, the President made a call for 
three hundred thousand men, those raised to be deducted from 
the quotas set for the next draft. The deficiencies to be made 
good by the States by a new draft to be made on January 5, 
1864. 

The President in December accompanied his message to 
Congi'ess with a proclamation of amnesty to the Confederates, 
stating his puipose to be to present the States wherein the 
national authority had been suspended, and loyal State Govern- 
ments had been subverted, a mode in and by which the national 
authority and loyal State Governments might be reinstated. 
Specified exceptions to the amnesty proclamation were stated. 

On the 8d of June, a " peace' meeting" was held in New 
York, instituted by leading Democrats. One of the resolutions 
passed, declared it was recommended by the meeting, that 
there should be a suspension of hostilities between the contend- 
ing armies of the divided sections of the country, and that a 
convention of the States composing the Confederate States, and 
a separate convention of the loyal States, be held to finally 
settle and determine in what manner and by what mode the 
contending sections should be reconciled. 

A serious riot broke out in New York on the morning of the 
13th of July. At the outset it was a demonstration against the 
draft, which was then in progress in the ninth district, inhab- 
ited mainly by laborers, a great proportion of whom were of 
foreign birth. They had been wrought to exasperation against 
the clause in the bill which allowed a person whose name was 
drawn to purchase exemption by the payment of three hundred 
dollars. When the drawing commenced on the 13th, a sudden 
attack was made by an armed mob upon the oflace. The 
wheel was destroyed, the lists scattered, and the building set 
on fire. The excitement spread throughout the city, crowds 
gathered everywhere, with no apparent object ; but during 
the day the movement seemed to be controlled by leaders in 
two general directions. The first was an attack upon the 
negroes; the second an assault upon every one who was sup 
posed to be in any way concerned in the draft, or prominently 
identified with the Republican party. The militia regiments 
who had always been relied upon to uphold public order in 
case of emergency, had been sent to Pennsylvania to withstand 



HISTORY OF THE UN^ITED STATES. 193 

the Confederate invasion; and the only guardians left for the 
public peace were the regular police and a few hundred sol- 
diers who garrisoned the forts. These were too few to protect 
the dozen miles between the extremities of the city. The mob, 
dispersed in one quarter, would reassemble at another, and for 
four days the city seemed given up to their control. The out- 
rages committed during this time were numerous and aggra- 
vated. Negroes were assaulted, beaten to death, mutilated, and 
hanged; building after building was sacked and burned; gangs 
of desperadoes patrolled the streets, levying contributions, and 
ordering places of business to be closed. A Colored Orphan 
Asylum, sheltering some hundreds of children, was sacked and 
burned. After the tirst day, the riot, which was at first directed 
against the draft, took a new turn. The entire mass of 
scoundrelism in the city seemed to have been let loose for in- 
discriminate plunder. Women, half-gi"own boys, and children 
were foremost in the work of robbery, and no man felt safe 
from attack. Gradually the bands of rioters were dispensed, 
and the peace of the city was restored. Fully a hundred per- 
sons were killed, and property to an immense amount was 
destro5^ed. 

Arizona and Idaho were organized under Territorial govern- 
ments. 

The free letter-camer system went into effect in July. 

Five Russian vessels of war arrived at the harbor of New 
York, the first which ever visited our ports. The officers, on 
the 1st of October, were publicly welcomed by the city 
authorities. 

The price of Middling Uplands cotton in the New York 
market, on the 1st of January, was sixtj^-seven cents ; on the 
1st of April, seventy-two to seventy-four cents ; on the 1st of 
July, seventy-three to seventy-four cents ; and on the 1st of 
October, eighty-one to eighty-three cents per pound. 

The market price of gold on the 1st of January was 133| to 
1331; on the 1st of April, 156»f to lo6f ; on the 1st of July, 
1441 to 144f ; and on the 1st of October, 140| to 142f . 
1864 Banks, with Porter's gun-boats co-operating, went up Red 
Ri,ver, in Louisiana, early this year. He took Natchitoches 
March 19th, but was defeated at Mansfield April 8th, and 
Pleasant Hill the 9th. He then abandoned the campaign. 
General Cauby succeeded him in command. From Vicksburg 
Sherman sent out one force into Eastern Mississippi to cut rail- 
roads and burn cotton, in February ; and General A. J. Smith 
led another thither from Tennessee. Forrest made an incur- 
sion into Kentucky from the South, unsuccessfully attacking 
Paducah in March, withdrawing to Tennessee, taking Fort 
Pillow by storm, slaughtering the garrison, half negroes, and 
then retreating. 

Second in importance only to the advance on Richmond, 
and first, perhaps, in practical results this year, was the work 
accomplished by William Tecumseh Sherman. When, in 
March, Grant was transferred to the supreme command of the 



194 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Union armies, the hero of Missionary Ridge was promoted from 
his char.iie of the Army of the Tennessee to that of the division 
of the Central Mississippi, which now included not only his old 
command vnd the armies of the Cumberland and the Ohio, but 
also that of the Arkansas. Sherman was in Memphis at this 
time. He went East to confer with the lieutenant-general about 
their future operations, and then proceeded to Chattanooga to 
lay out his work. He began his march r-outhward early in May, 
with nearly one hundred thousand men ; this number diminished 
through casualties, and the posting of forces to guard his line of 
communications. Johnston, in his front with Hardee's, Hood's, 
and Polk's corps, mustered between fifty thousand and sixty 
thousand at the outset, but increased those figures somewhat as 
he fell back. Bragg after his defeat the previous November, 
had been retired from command in Georgia. Atlanta, an im- 
portant railroad centre in the heart of that State, and the site 
of valuable manufactories and machine shops, was Sherman's 
objective point. In his advance of one hundred and twenty 
miles or more he had several severe engagements. There 
was considerable tighting before Dalton May Tth, Init by 
a flank movement the retirement of Johnston was forced three 
or four days later. On the 15th a lively contest occurred 
near Resaca, to which the Confederates had withdrawn, 
Thej'^ were finally driven from the town, and the Union 
advance entered next day. Manoeuvring and fighting near 
Dallas occupied the next fortnight, at the end of which John- 
ston was again forced, by being flanked, to retreat. The next 
stand was made near Kenesaw Mountain and its neighbors, Lost 
and Pine mountiiins, twenty miles from Atlanta. The Confed- 
erates had here a strong position. Sherman crowded them 
from the 14th to the 27th of June. On the first day, Polk, the 
Louisiana bishop and general, was killed by a cannon-ball 
w^hile making observations with Johnston and Hardee. On 
the last, Sherman made an attack, which was repulsed with 
much slaughter. He now resorted to his favorite tactics. A 
flanking column was thrown onward to the Chattahoochee next 
day, and at nightfall it compelled an evacuation of the much- 
contested Kenesaw. Johnston held the stream until July 10th, 
and then withdrew inside his formidable intrenchments around 
Atlanta. He was here deprived of his command for a time by 
Jefferson Davis, who did not esteem hiiiTas highly as others 
did ; and Hood was assigned to the defence of the Gate Citj'. 
While the Union troops were making another advance, on the 
20th, they were repulsed, and General McPhersou, commanding- 
one of Sherman's corjos, was killed. General John A. Logan 
succeeded to the command. Sherman again tried to force the 
enemy on the 22d, and met with another hard blow, though 
before night he had changed his defeat into victory. His loss, 
however, was nearly four thousand, while Hood suffered to an 
even greater extent. Raids for the destruction of railroads were 
now planned and executed by Sherman. A cavalry expedition to 
Macon, with a view to liberate Union prisoners at AndersonWlle, 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 195 

was also undertaken by Stoncman, but with disastrous results. 
On the 27tli a flanking force was pushed forward on the Union 
right, under Howard, now commanding the Army of the 
Tennessee. Logan's corps caught the worst of the sudden 
<;harge with which Hood retaliated. Again and again the Con- 
federates came uji, but they were mown ilown murderously. At 
length, after a loss estimated at five thousand, Hood ceased to 
strike, and Howard held his ground. Nearly a month later, 
after various cavalry raids, Sherman broke camp in front of 
Atlanta, moved rapidly around by the westward to the south 
of the city. On the last night of August, the Confederates 
blew up their magazines, burned their stores, destroyed their 
machine shops and foundries, and abandoned the place to 
Sherman. During the next few weeks, by aggressive raids to 
the northward. Hood threatened most of the Union posts all the 
way up to Resaca, but Sherman reinforced and saved them. 
He would not, however, allow himself to be drawn out of the 
State. Hood at length withdrew into Northern Alabama. 

Mobile was a point of great interest this season. The city is 
at the head of a bay thirty miles or more long and from ten to 
twenty miles wide. Long sand-bars nearly close the entrance, 
with an opening between them not more than two miles across. 
This was guarded by Fort Gaines on the west and Fort Morgan 
on the right. Before this gateway Admiral Farragut, who had 
conducted the conquest of New Orleans two years before, 
appeared on August 4th. He had a fleet of fourteen men-of- 
war, besides four ironclads. The wooden vessels were fastened 
together in couples, and Farragut was lashed to the masthead 
of the tlag-ship Hartford nvore easily to superintend the action. 
Next day the lleet ran the gauntlet of the forts, and encoimter- 
edthe fire of several Confederate vessels insitle the bay, return- 
ing the attack with great spirit. Tlie engagement was furious, 
and the air was tilled with cannon-balls. One Federal iron-clad , 
the Tecumseh, was sunk by a torpedo ; but a rebel gun-boat was 
driven ashore, and another put to flight up the bay. The rebel 
ram Tennessee, however, proved a formidable antagonist, and 
only after several wooden vessels had daiuaged themselves by 
butting her, and the irou-elads had come to the rescue, was she 
forced to surrender. Farragut now de\oted himself to the 
land forces. On the Olh he compelled Fort Gaines to surrender, 
and on the 22d Fort ^Morgan followed. No attempt was made 
at this time to capture the city of Mobile, although Sherman 
had hoped it would be done, and a supporting column thrown 
out to co-operate with him in Georgia. But an important port 
into which blockade-runners were bringing supplies was 
effectually closed up, and Farragut added to his laurels. 

In November, Sherman began his famous " March to the Sea," 
a movement of singular boldness. na\ing sent his sick back 
to Chattanooga, and reinforced Thomas at Nash\'ille, he de- 
stroyed the remaining ironworks in Atlanta, tore up all the 
neighboring railroads, cut the telegraph-wire which had taken 
his messages to Washington, and, on the 14th, started southeast- 



196 HISTORY OF THE UNITED SVATES. 

ward. He formed two columns, under Generals Howard and 
Blair, with cavalry out on the Avings, and advanced without 
meeting much resistance. He rendered all railroads useless, 
and subsisted on the coimtry through which he passed. By 
spreading out over a broad region, he concealed his strength 
and position, and misled the enemy as to his plans. No great 
concentration against him was therefore practicable. Finally, 
on December 10th, he reached the rear of Savannah. Already 
Union troops held Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of Savannah 
River. The town was now in peril, and on the 20th Hardee 
abandoned it and moved up to Charleston. Sherman took 
possession two days later. This result of the mysterious and 
risky disappearance from Atlanta awakened great enthusiasm 
in the North. 

As had been anticipated, Hood, in Northern Alabama, or 
ganized a campaign against Nashville even before Sherman 
started for the sea. But Thomas was amply warned and well 
supported. Sherman had perfect confidence in his lieutenant, 
and this was justified by the event. Hood, first crushing 
Schofield at Franklin, advanced to the capital of Tennessee. 
Here, falling upon him December 15th, Thomas routed him 
completely, taking twenty-five thousand prisoners. Bragg, 
with a mere handful of men, escaped to Alabama. 

Grant was made lieutenant-general March 2d, and placed in 
command of all the Union armies. Having laid out Sherman's 
campaign, as nearly as he could in advance, he took the offen- 
sive himself in Virginia in May. Accompanying Meade's vet- 
erans of the Army of the Potomac, he advanced from Culpepper 
on the 3d. Just south of the Rapidan, in the Wilderness, not 
far from the battlefield of Chancellorsville, he met Lee on the 
5th, and for three days, with stubborn energy and awful 
slaughter, he fought the Confederates there, but could not drive 
them from their intrenchments. Not discouraged by their re- 
sistance, nor by any possible criticism of his sacrifice of life, he 
declared that he meant to " fight it out on this line if it took all 
summer." He now moved to the left, and, beginning again on 
the 9th, he renewed the attack at Spottsylvania Court-House, 
fighting for four days. Here Hancock took four thousand 
prisoners one day. Advancing further to the left. Grant re- 
newed the struggle at Cold Harbor, Juue^^, and continued it 
three days. Up to date he had lost sixty thousand men, and 
Lee thirty-five thousand. Unable to turn Lee's fiank and get 
at Richmond from the north, he decided to push on and attack 
from the south. At Bennuda Hundred, June 15th, he joined 
Butler, who, with the Ai-my of the James, had pushed up 
from Fortress Monroe, and approached Petersbiu-g. Lee came 
to its defence before a severe blow had been struck. Sheridan's 
cavalry carefully examined the whole Confederate line from 
north of Richmond to south of Petersburg to find a weak spot 
without avail. Near the latter town, July 30, under a Confed 
erate fort, a mine was exploded, and colored troops were then 
pushed into the gap to break the line, but without success. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 197 

Warren was sent out on the Weldon road to cut Southern con- 
nections, and some other minor blows were struck, without 
much result. Meade's and Butler's losses in this campaign 
were one hundred thousand. Lee was too much occupied to 
make another northward movement. 

The Shenandoah Valley was the scene of more contests dur- 
ing the whole war, perhaps, than any other region of its size ; 
and some of the most brilliant exploits of the opposing forces 
there were performed ihis year. Early, the daring and skilful 
Confederate commander there, defeated lirst Sigel and then 
Hunter in May and June, and then made a bold raid on Wash- 
ington. He had no such force at his command as that which 
McClellan turned back from Antietam in 1863, or Meade re- 
pulsed at Gettysburg the following summer ; but it was a 
startling movement, nevertheless. It came early in Julj", just 
after Grant had forced Lee down near Richmond, and when 
few troops were left near the Federal capital. Early's advance 
came within seven miles of the latter city. Checked at 
Monocacy, on the 9th, by Lew Wallace, he was subsequentl}" 
driven back into Virginia by Wright's corps, which oppor- 
tunely arrived. To put an end to this distracting business. Grant 
sent Sheridan, whom he had come to value highly after the 
latter's service in the Chattanooga campaign, to take command 
in the valley. The bold young commander quietly waited, a 
little south of Harper's Ferry, until he got word from his su- 
perior officer to "Go in !" A vigorous attack was made on 
Early at Winchestei", September 19th, and, after a hard-fought 
battle, in which the cavalry gave material help, Sheridan forced 
the enemy through and out of the town, and chased him up 
the valley. Resistance was again encountered and overcome ; 
and the Union advance did not stop until Harrisonburg was 
reached. To preclude any more trouble from a Confeder- 
ate force in the valley, Sheridan now destroyeil the means 
of subsistence. The autumn crops were harvested, and these 
were destroyed along the whole line where they could not 
be carried off. Then Sheridan fell back, and, leaving his 
army intrenched at Cedar Creek, ran up to Washington to con- 
fer with the authorities. Early had followed the invaders 
down the valley, however, and discovered their commander's 
absence. This chance was improved with a well-planned at- 
tack. The Union soldiers were surprised in their camps before 
breakfast, October 19th, by a flank movement, and the left 
and centre of their line driven in. General Wright, ranking 
officer, whose corps was on the right, stayed the retreat two or 
three miles back, and tried to reorganize the shattered armj'. 
Meantime Sheridan was on his way back from Washington. 
He had slept in Winchester over-night, twenty miles away. One 
of the first sounds that greeted his ears as he started on his south- 
ward way in the morning was artillery, and he quickly divined 
that a battle was in progress. Alert and fiery, he put spurs to 
his steed, and rode furiously on. In an hour or two he began 
to meet the fugitives always to be seen in the rear of such a 



198 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

battle as Cedar Creek, and, liis zeal and anxiety increasing, he 
urged his horse to the top of its speed. The outlook at the 
front was gloomy enough when the Union commander came 
up. On the way he had reproved and encouraged the fright 
eued stragglers, and persuaded many of them to return. But 
when he finally dashed on to the hesitating, imperfectly-restoi'ed 
line which Wright had formed, a wonderful change came over 
his command. He was a man of such magnetism and so idol- 
ized by his men that, as he rode down past them, shouting that 
be was going to take them back to their abandoned camps thai 
night, his own enthusiasm and courage Avas imparted to the 
whole army. Long after noon, the formation ])cing at last com 
pleted, he began his advance. Back to Cedar Creek the Union 
line now swept, can5'ing ever3'thing befoie it, and working- 
worse disaster upon the apparently victorious Confederates than 
they had accomplished in the morning. So badly demoralized 
was Early's army by this defeat that it never again tried to 
reoccupy'the valley. "Sheridan's Ride," that so brilliantly 
turned the tide of battle on this occasion, has been celebrated in 
a well-known poem. 

The most destructive of the rebel criu'sers, several of M'hich 
w^re built in British ports, was the Alabama. She captured 
sixty-six prizes, worth $10,000,000, in her short career. Ra- 
phael Semmes commanded her. She encountered the Union 
frigate Kearsarge, Captain Winslow, near Cherbourg, France, 
June 19th, and was sent to the bottom. Her officers and crew 
were picked up b}" the friendl}' English yacht Deerhound, 
which came out to see the fight. Another Confederate cruiser, 
the Florida, was taken at Bahia, Brazil, by the Wachusett, 
Captain Collins. 

A daring and useful feat was perfoimed by a boat's crew 
commanded by Lieutenant Cushing of the Navy, October 27th. 
The rebel ram Albemarle, in the sound of that "name, had been 
making destructive raids upon Union .shiiDping down on the 
coast, and it was a fonnidable obstacle to an}^ invasion of that 
region. Approaching stealthilj-, by night, Lieutenant Cushing 
planted a huge torpedo under her, and blew her up. 

Congress, in February, passed an act modifying the existing 
Enrolment bill in some particulars. It authorized the Prest- 
dent to call for as manj^ men into service as^4he necessity might 
require, and drafts to be ordered if the quotas were not filled. 
Substitutes might be furnished by those enrolled ; all persons 
under forty-five to be enrolled ; drafted persons could furnish 
substitutes ; commuters exempted only from the special draft ; 
all male persons of African descent, between twenty and forty- 
five, whether citizens or not, to be enrolled ; and colored troops 
not to be assigned as State troops, but to be mustered into regi- 
ments or companies as United States vokmteers. 

Congress, in March, passed an act establishing a Bureau of 
Frecdmen's Affairs. By^ it all questions relating to persons of 
African descent were to be determined, with authority to make 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 199 

regulations for their employment and treatment on abandoned 
plantations. 

Congress passed a bill reviving the grade of lieutenant-gen- 
eral, M'hich was approved by the President, who at once ap- 
pointed General Grant to the position, and, on the 9th of March, 
gave him, in person, his commission. Subsequently, the Presi- 
dent approved a bill creating the rank of vice-admiral, of equal 
grade with that of lieutenant-general in the army. Admiral 
Farragut was given the position. 

Authority was given the Secretary of the Treasury to issue 
l)ouds not exceeding two hundred millions of dollars, payable 
in live or forty years in coin, and bearing interest not exceeding 
six per cent, payable in coin. Subsequently, another bill was 
passed authorizing the issue of four hundred millions of bonds 
of like tenor; or, in lieu of an equal amount of bonds, the Sec- 
retary of the Treasury might issue two hundred millions in 
Treasury notes, in denomination of not less than ten dollars, 
payable in three years, and bearing interest at the rate of seven 
and three tenths per cent per annum, payable "in lawful 
money," and to be a legal tender to the same extent as United 
States notes. 

An act was approved by the President, on the 3d of June, 
amending the National Bank Act, by which the entire issue of 
notes for circulation undei' the act was confined to three hun- 
dred millions ; the banks to be allowed to charge seven per 
cent interest on loans; and no bank established under the act 
to have a capital less than one hundred thousand dollars, and, 
if located in a city of more than fiftj- thousand inhabitanls, not 
less than two hundred thousand dollars. 

The Fugitive Slave Acts of Congress, passed in the years 
1793 and 1850, were repealed by act of Congress approved by 
the President on the 38th of June. 

A new Tariff Act went into effect on the 4th of July. Among 
the articles specified, tens were to be charged a duty of 2a 
cents per pound; sugar, according to grade, 3 to 5 cents; bran- 
dies, $2.50 per gallon; other spirits, $2 per gallon; champagnes, 
not less than $6 a dozen for quarts; spirituous liquors not enu- 
merated, 100 per cent upon the value; ales, porter, and beer in 
bottles, 35 cents; not bottled, 20 cents j^er gallon; cigars, from 
75 cents to $3 per pound, besides from 20 to 60 per cent, ad ra- 
Inrem ; tobacco, 35 to 50 cents per pound; iron, various rates, 
but none less than 33 per cent on the value; coal, from 40 to 
125 cents a ton; lead, on an average, 2 cents a pound; gems, 
unset, 10 per cent; wools, from 3 to 10 cents, according to 
grade, with 10 per cent additional ad valorem ; woollen goods, 
various specified rates, none less than 50 per cent on the value, 
and many more than this; cotton, 2 cents })er pound; cotton 
manufactures, from 5 to 7i cents per square yard, besides 
from 10 to 35 per cent ad valorem ; linens, 35 to 40 per cent; 
silk, 25 to 40 per cent; silk goods, generally, GO per cent; china 
and earthenware, 40 to 45 per cent; books, 25 per cent; fancy 



200 HISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

soaps, 10 cents a pound, and 25 per cent ad talorem ; and plain 
soaps 1 cent a pound and 30 per cent ad valorem. 

An Internal Revenue Law was passed, imposing licenses 
upon every trade and profession, varying from tiie presumed 
amoimt of business; discrimination being made against liquor- 
dealers, shows, lotteries, gift enterprises, and the like. Ev- 
ery person whose profession was not specially enumerated 
was to pay a license of ten doUars if his business should bring 
an income of one thousand dollars. Every possible legal docu- 
ment, to be valid, was required to be stamped; all patent medi 
cines and similar preparations were made subject to excise, the 
general principle being to impose one cent for everj- twenty five 
cents of the price of the article; almost every article of manu- 
facture was noted with a special tax, amounting as nearly as 
possible to five per cent on the value; railroads, express com- 
panies, and similar branches of business, to pay from two to 
five per cent of their gross receipts, and a special tax was im- 
posed upon many articles of show and luxury. 

An act was passed guaranteeing to certain States, whose gov- 
ernments had been overthrown or usurped, a republican form 
of government, and authorizing the President to appoint a Pro- 
visional Governor for such States until a regular State Govern- 
ment should be established. 

On the 1st of February, the President ordered a draft of five 
hundred thousand men, to begin on the 10th of March, to serve 
for three years or the war. On the loth of March, he made a 
call for two huntbed thousand volunteers; on the 18th of Jtdy, 
for five hundred thousand more; and on the 20th of December, 
for three hundred thousand. 

The Territory of Montana was authorized to be organized, 
and Nevada was admitted to the Union as a State. 

On the 19th of October, the town of St. Albans, in Vermont, 
about fifteen miles from the Canadian frontier, was subjected 
t« a raid, accompanied by bloodshed, by armed Confederates 
entering the State from Canada. They overpowered the em- 
ployes of three banks, seized over two hundred thousand dol- 
lars in money, and, stealing all the horses thej' could in the 
streets and livery -stables, escaped into Canada. 

The city of Detroit was thrown into gi-eat excitement, on the 
30th of October, by a report that a rauLon the city was to be 
made during the night by armed parties of the enemy from 
Canada. Soldiers were called out; artillerj' was brought from 
the barracks and posted in the streets; the steam fire-engines 
were made ready for sudden use, and the depots and public 
buildings guarded. No enemy, however, appeared. 

The money order system of the post-office department went 
into operation in November. The postal-car service— the as- 
sorting of mail matter while in transit— commenced on the 
Iowa division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, on 
the 28th of August. It next went into operation between New 
York and Washington, and subsequently on other prominent 
railroad routes. 



UISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. 201 

Street-railway cars commenced running for the first time in 
the cities of Indianapolis and Lowell. 

The "Colt Armory," at Hartford, was partially destroyed 
by fire on the 8th of February, destroying property valued at a 
million of dollars, and throwing about nine hundred men out 
of employment. On the night of the 22d of December, the 
steamship North America, which left New Orleans on the 16th, 
sunk at sea. Of those on board, nearly two hundred persons 
were lost, most of whom were sick soldiers. 

At the presidential election held in November, the Republi- 
can candidates were Abraham Lincoln, for re-election as Presi- 
dent, and Andrew Johnson for Vice-President, and they were 
elected, receiving the electoral votes of twenty-two States, two 
hundred and thirteen in all. The Democratic party nominated 
General George B, McClellan for President, and George H. 
Pendleton for Vice-President, and secured the electoral votes 
of the States of New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky, only 
twenty-one in all. The platform adopted by the Democratic 
party, with other less important resolutions, declared, " That 
this Convention does explicitly declare, as the sense of the 
American people, that after four years of failure to restore the 
Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pre- 
tence of a military necessity or war power higher than the 
Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in 
every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden 
down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially 
impaired, justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare 
demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hos- 
tilities, with a view to an ultimate convention of all the States, 
or other peaceable means, to the end that, at the earliest practi- 
cable moment, peace may be restored on the basis of the federal 
union of all the States." The platform of the Republican 
party resolved that the rebellion should be suppressed without 
compromise, and that slavery should be abolished by Constitu- 
tional amendment. 

On the 18th of May, the Jour ncd of Com more and the WorM, 
New York City newspapers, were suppressed by order of the 
President, and their editors directed to be arrested. A forged 
proclamation, purporting to be issued by the President, calling 
for half a million more troops, was distributed to all the 
city papers the night before, and was published in these 
two only, its character hiving been suspected. The ar- 
rest of the editors was subsequently vacated by the Presi- 
dent's order. The forgers were discovered and imprisoned. 

Several attempts to tire the city of New York caused great 
excitement, in the belief that they were made by the Confede- 
rates, and an order was issued that all persons residing in the 
city should register themselves or be treated as spies. One per- 
son was arrested for setting fire to several hotels; he confessed 
his crime, and was executed. 

The New York quotations of gold were, on the 1st of Janu- 



202 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

ary, 152; on the 1st of April, 166^; on the 1st of July, 245; and 
on the 1st of October, 1911 to 193^. 

The market price of Middling Uplands cotton in New York, 
on the 1st of January of this year, was 81 to 83 cents; on the 
1st of April, 76 cents; on the 1st of July, 150 to 152; and on 
the 1st of October, 115 to 120 cents. 
1865 Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated President, for a second 
term of office, on the 4th of March, and Andrew Johnson took 
the oath of office as Vice-President. 

The military operations, early in the year, brought the war 
to a speedy conclusion. Grant began operations late in the 
winter. With the idea of cutting Lee off completely, he pro- 
posed that Sheridan should push southward fi'om the Shenan- 
doah Valley to Lynchburg, in Southwestern Virginia, and con- 
nect with the Union lines extending westward, south of Peters- 
burg. In February this was undertaken. Sheridan advanced 
with such rapidity as to annihilate Early's force at Waynes- 
boro, and the Confederate commander barely escaped in person. 
Lee was too well prepared, however, for the consummation of 
Sheridan's plan, and the proposed junction west of Petersburg 
could not be effected. The Army of the Shenandoah was 
therefore brought around, north of Richmond, in March, to 
assist the armies of the Potomac and the James in their opera- 
tions, not, however, until he had destroyed manufactories, 
stores, and bridges at Charlottesville and the vicinity. Lee did 
not wait for Grant to begin, but himself assumed the offensive 
early in the spring. One of the principal Union works east of 
Petersbiu"g, Fort Steedman, was suddenly charged by an in- 
fantry force, commanded by General Gordon, March 25th, and 
taken without much resistance. The captors turned the guns, 
which were now in their hands, upon Fort Haskell, and upon 
the latter another charge was made. A cut in Grant's line was 
imminent. The demonstration promised to call to this point 
Union troops that were threatening Lee's right and rear, south 
of Petersburg, and thus enable the Confederate commander to 
regain the Weldon road which Meade had seized in the winter. 
But the assault on Fort Haskell failed, and two thousand of 
the assailants were captured. Meade improved this chance to 
make an attack himself, off' to the Union left, and gained some 
gi'ound that day. Wan-en and Humphreys, each with a corps, 
were sent out to the southwest of Petersburg, with Sheridan 
and his ten thousand cavalry still further to the .south, to turn 
Lee's right, if possible. The possibility of the Confederate 
army withdrawing into North Carolina and helping Johnston 
deliver a crushing blow to Sherman was perceived by Giant, 
who also realized that Lee's supplies must come from that 
quarter. Hence this movement. Warren encountered consid- 
erable opposition March 29th, but advanced bejond Hatcher's 
Rim. Sheridan sent out a force next day from Dinwiddle to 
Five Forks; where Lee's right was stronglj' intrenched. No 
attempt to drive it in was made, however. On the 31st Lee 
tried to crowd Warren back, but without success. Sheridan 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 203 

meantime took Five Forks. From this position liis cavalry 
were driven, however, before night. Next morning Sheridan 
advanced again from Dinwiddie to Five Forlis, regaining his 
lost ground. The tinal stroke there was not delivered until 
nightfall, when Wari'cu's troops, which were put at Sheridan's 
disposal, were hurled against the enemy in a fearful charge. 
Over live thousand prisoners were taken, and Lee's right wing 
was badly damaged. That very night Grant's artillery before 
Petersburg began a terrilic bombardment of the town; and the 
slowly closing grasp of the besieging army was contracted still 
further next day by a series of vigorous charges. Wright, 
Pai'ke, Humphreys, and Ord drove the stul)born Confederates 
from their intrenchments at several points, while Sheridan 
crowded in a little more to the southwest. When night fell, 
Lee's lines were broken in three places, and Petersburg was at 
Grant's mercy. The next day, April 2d, was Sunday. Jefferson 
Davis sat in his pew in church when, at 11 a.m., a messenger 
brought him a dispatch from Lee, revealing the situation. 
The downfall of Petersburg, now practicall}- assured, meant 
the downfall of Richmond. Acting on this intelligence. Mi-. 
Davis and the leading officers of the Confederacy prepared for 
rapid departure, which was effected that night southwestward 
by the Danville Railroad. Great confusion prevailed in the 
Confederate capital, where the utmost effort was made by those 
who could to escape and remove their worldly goods. Thai 
night the few troops left there w'ere withdrawn, and the cit\' 
set on fire at several points. General Weitzel, commanding the 
Union troops in front of the city, suspected what was taking 
place from the sound of explosions and from the distant lights. 
Captured rebel pickets and deserters revealed the truth before 
dawn, and by 6 a.m. Weitzel rode into Richmond, over which 
the Stars and Stripes were soon floating. A few days later 
President Lincoln came down there in person for a brief visit, 
and then returned to his tragic fate in Washington. Peters- 
burg was also evacuated, silently, on the 2d of April, and 
on the 3d was occupied by the forces immediately in its 
front. But Grant was massing off to the southwestward, with 
Griffin's (formerly Warren's) corps at Sutherland's, ten miles 
west of the town, and Sheridan ten miles fiu-ther in the same 
direction. Lee, forced out of his splendid earthworks, with a 
starving, much disjointed army, was now trying to save his 
men by pushing westward or southward. If he could, he 
wanted to go down the Danville road toward North Carolina, 
or at best move westward along the Appommattox River. 
Awaiting supplies, he concentrated at Amelia Court-House, 
while Sheridan, pushing on, seized the Danville road at Jetcrs- 
ville, where nearly the whole Union army was gathered on the 
6th. The previous night Lee had pushed on to the westward, 
trying to find a point where he could get down to the south- 
ward; but Sheridan outstripped him, and two or three wagon 
trains and some prisoners were taken. Ewell's corps was cut 
off from the Confederate army and captured after a plucky re- 



204 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

sistance, and Ewell and four other generals were taken. Re- 
duced by starvation, as well as strategy and superior force, Lee 
was now virtually overcome. Grant demanded his surrender, 
on the 7th, to avoid further bloodshed, and Sheridan empha- 
sized it by capturing valuable supply-trains coming to Lee's 
relief, and then swinging around in Lee's front at Appomattox 
Court- House. This was the final stroke. Next day Lee re- 
plied to Grant by proposing a conference on the 9th. This was 
held underneath an apple-tree, and the surrender was there ar- 
ranged. Lee and his officers were to retain their swords, and 
the Confederate soldiers were to keep their horses. " You will 
need them for your spring ploughing," Grant said. And the 
vanquished army was allowed to disperse and go home, unmo- 
lested so long as its men refrained from further hostility to the 
Federal government. 

General Terry led an expedition, in January, against Fort 
Fisher, near Wilmington, N. C, and carried the work by storm 
the 15th. General Butler had tried it in the preceding month, 
and failed. Fugitive Confederates now blew up their cruisers 
Tallahassee and Chickamauga, to prevent their capture. Both 
were British built, less than a year old, and had ravaged the ship- 
ping on the Atlantic coast. The Chickamauga destroyed thirty- 
three vessels during her short career , causing a loss of five hundred 
thousand dollars. The blockading fleet, during this winter, as 
through previous years, had been vigilant and successful at the 
rapidly diminishing niunber of Confederate ports, and had made 
numerous valuable captures. During the war no less than one 
hundred and fifty blockade-runners, inward-bound, laden with 
aims, ammunition, clothing, railroad iron, and other useful 
products for the conduct of the Confederate campaigns, or out- 
ward-bound, with cargoes of cotton worth nearly or quite a 
dollar a pound, were caught, and sent North to be sold. A 
large share of the pi'oceeds went as prize-money to the captors. 
Most of the commerce thus broken up was with England, and 
the losses fell largely on the people of that country. 

Sherman started northward from Savannah in February. 
He occupied Columbia, S. C, the 17th. The town was de 
stroyed that night by fire, started, it was said, by smouldering 
tufts blown about from cotton which Wade Hampton burned 
on evacuating. Hardee evacuated Charleston the same day, 
and on the 18th the Union forces in the harbor occupied it. As 
Sherman advanced. Union troops from Wilmington, Newberne, 
and other points near the coast, joined him. A Union cavalry 
raid from Eastern Tennessee into North Carolina, by Stone- 
man, also facilitated his progress. After meeting occasional 
resistance from Johnston, he occupied Italeigh, April 13th. 
Negotiations for surrender were begun, but delayed by con- 
sideration of civil as well as military matters. The former 
were finally ruled out, and the last Confederate army laid down 
its arms April 26th. 

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, was taken 
prisoner while fleeing through Georgia, in May, and sent to 



HISTORY CF THE UNITED STATES. ^ 205 

Fortress Monroe for confinement, where he remained as prisoner 
two years, when he was released on bail. In 1868 he was ih- 
clnded in the general amnesty. 

The leading event of the year, taking precedence of all others, 
even mihtary, was the assassination of President Lincoln by J. 
Wilkes Booth, an actor by profession, on the evening of the 
14th of April, at Ford's Theatre in Washington. Mr. Lincoln, ac- 
companied by his ^ife, Major Rathbone, and Miss Morris, oc- 
cupied a box at the theatre, that evening. The door of the box 
opened inward, and was approached by a narrow passage. The 
box was about twelve feet above the stage, looking directly 
upon it. Booth, being well known in the theatre, had free ac- 
cess to all parts of the building at any hour, and was perfectly 
acquainted with all its arrangements and the ways of entrance 
and exit. His arrangements were carefully made: a small hole 
had been bored in the door opening from the passage into the 
box, through which could be had a complete view of the in- 
terior of the box. Outside of the theatre, near the private en- 
trance to the stage, he had a horse in waiting, and close by was 
an accomplice, mounted, and ready to accompany him after his 
escape from the theatre. Abouthalf -past nine, Booth silently, and 
unperceived by the occupants, entered the box and fastened the 
door behind him. At this time, as Booth knew, the action of the 
piece required the stage to be vacant for a moment. All eyes were 
turned to the stage, waiting for the entrance of the next actor. 
At that instant the report of a pistol was heard, and Rathbone 
turning saw through the smoke a man between the door and 
the President. He sprang up and grappled him; but the man 
making a thrust with a large knife and inflicting a severe wound 
wrested himself away and rushed to the front of the box. 
Rathbone endeavored to seize him again, but only caught hold 
of his clothes as he leaped over the railing upon the stage. His 
spur caught in the folds of a flag, and was torn off, and he fell 
nearly prostrate, receiving a severe injury. Notwithstanding this, 
he sprung to his feet, brandished his knife, shouted " Sic semper 
tyrannis," and rushed through the coulisses, by passages well 
known to him, to the rear exit of the stage, before the specta- 
tators were aware of what had occurred. The man, however, 
was identified as Booth by several actoi's who saw him on the 
stage. The interval between the shot and the leap of Booth to 
the stage was hardly thirty seconds. The ball entered just bo- 
hind the President's left ear, driving fragments of bone before 
it, and lodged in the brain. The President was carried to a 
private house opposite the theatre. He was unconscious from 
the moment of the shot, and died early the next morning. Just 
about the time when the President was assassinated, a man 
presented himself at the residence of Mr. Seward, the Secretarj" 
of State, who was lying in his bedroom in a critical state from 
injuries received from having been thrown from his carriage. 
Pushing abraptly past the servant, who hesitated to admit 
him, the man made his way toward the sick-room. Before 
reaching the room the slight disturbance had aroused several 



206 IIISTOKY OF TIIK UNITED STATES. 

persons in the house. Foremost of these was a son of the Sec- 
retary. He received a blow from a heavy pistol, which frac- 
tured his skull and left him insensible. The man then reached 
the door of Mr. Seward's room. Within were a daughter of 
the Secretary, and George Robinson, a soldier, who was attend- 
ing the invalid. Robinson, hearing the disturbance, opened the 
door and received a passing stab from the assassin, who rushed 
to the bedside of Mr. Seward and endeavored to strike him with 
a knife. Robinson grappled with him, and a severe struggle en- 
sued. The assailant, a very powerful man, seemed bent ujjon 
reaching Mr. Seward. He succeeded in striking him slightly 
two or three times; but the wounded man managed to roll froiii 
the bed to the floor. The struggle had now aroused the house; 
and the assassin broke away, rushed downstairs, mounted a 
horse at the door, and made his escape. The whole detective 
force of the government was at once called into requisition 
to arrest the assassins. Various circumstances led to the belief 
that the assailant of Mr. Seward was John Surratt, whose 
mother, a resident of Washington, had made her house a ren- 
dezvous for disloyalists. Her house was seized. Before day- 
light on the morning of the 18th a man dressed as a laborer came 
to the door and was arrested. He said his name was Payne: 
that he was a common laborer, born in Virginia, and had been 
engaged to repair a gutter of the house. His statements were 
unsatisfactory and contradictory. He was found tobe in dis- 
guise, his light hair dyed black. He was in the end fully iden- 
tilied as the man who attacked Mr. Seward. Meanwhile the 
energies of the government were directed to the arrest of 
Booth. It was discovered that he rode some thirty miles into 
a part of Maryland where the inhabitants were notoriously dis- 
loyal. His wounded leg Avas dressed by a physician, who fur- 
nished him with a crutch. Crippled as he was. Booth worked 
his way for ten days, hiding in swamps by the way, and more 
than once narrowly escaping discovery, accompanied all the 
while by a companion named Herrold. The pair at length 
got across the Potomac into Viiginia. By means of infor 
mation volunteered by blacks, and extorted from Avhites, the 
fugitives were traced to a house near Bowling Green. The 
pursuers, twenty-seven in number, were led by Colonel Con- 
ger. Among them was Boston Corbitt, a sergeant in the ccxx 
alry. Booth and Herrold were hiddeuTn a liarn. They were 
called upon to surrender. A long parley ensued, for the ])ur- 
suers wished to take the fugitives alive. Herrold gave himself 
up and came out; Booth refused; fire was set to the dry straw 
in the barn. Booth, brought to bay, wished to sell his life dear- 
ly. Leaning on his crutch, he was in the act of aiming at one 
of his pursuers, when his tire was anticipated by a pistol-shot 
from Corbitt, who had watched his movements through an 
opening in the boarding. Booth died after suffering intensely 
for foiu" hours. The murder of the President aroused a feeling 
of regret deeper than was ever before known in our history. 
Men and papers who had opposed his policy and vilified bini 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 207 

personally, now vied with his adherents in lauding the rue 
wisdom and goodness which marked his conduct and character. 
It was decided that his body should be interred at his home, in 
Springfield, 111. The long journey was one great funeral pro- 
cession, lasting from the 31st of April, when the embalmed 
body left Washington, till the 4th of May, when it was entombed 
at Springfield. The ceremonies at New York, on the 25th of 
April, were by far the most imposing ever known in that city. 
It was estimated that sixty thousand people marched in the pro- 
cession. By the death of Mr. Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, elected 
as Vice-President, became the President of the United States, 
taking the oath of office on the 15th of April. Of those fovuid 
upon trial as having been tlie accomplices of Booth, and abet- 
tors in his escape, four were hung on the Tthof July, three were 
sentenced to imprisonment at hard labor for life, and one for 
six years. 

An act was passed by Congress chartering the Freedmens 
Savings and Trust Company at Washington. The last war- 
loan of $600,000,000, to be exempt from taxation, was author- 
ized in March, just before Lee's surrender. 

The civil war being ended in April, measures were necessary 
to bring the seceded States back into their proper relation with 
the Union, and protect the emancipated colored people therein 
from possible violence. President Johnson framed a plan of 
Reconstruction, which resembled that which Lincoln had con- 
templated. It was to appoint provisional governors in the 
Southern States, who were to call conventions of the people, 
which in turn were to order elections of complete State govern- 
ments. The conventions were required to declare the acts of 
secession null and void; to declare slavery forever abolished; to 
repudiate the State debts incurred in aid of the rebellion, and 
to provide that the State officers elected should be safe and 
loyal men. If the reorganization failed, troops were to be on 
hand in every State to maintain order and authority. To aid 
this plan, April 29th, the President by proclamation opened 
the Southern ports to trade, except in arms, uniforms, and rail- 
road and telegraph material, these restrictions being all re- 
moved subsequently. May 29th, a proclamation was issued 
granting " amnesty and pardon, with restoration of all rights of 
property, except as to slaves" and lawful confiscations, to all 
the Southern people, except to specified classes of the leaders 
and officials of the rebellion. In May, June, and July the 
provisional governors were appointed except in Tennessee, 
Louisiana, Virginia, and Arkansas, where the existing State 
governments were accepted as satisfactory. The plan of reor- 
ganization as outlined above was carried out at once, and be- 
fore the end of the year State governments were in operation 
in every State. In a few months' time the social and commer- 
cial relations of the South with the rest of the country were 
thus re-established. The political conventions of both the Re- 
publican and Democratic parties in the North this year ap- 
proved this plan. Some Republicans, however, were dissatis- 



208 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

lied with it, deeming that it inadequately guaranteed protec- 
tion to tlie freedmen. 

A resolution submitted by Congi-ess to the several States for 
approval in March, as an amendment to the Constitution, abol- 
ishing slavery in the United States, was ratified by three fourths 
as required, and went into effect in December. The proposed 
amendment was rejected by Delaware, Kentucky, and New 
Jersey. 

At the beginning of this year negroes were excluded from 
voting in all the States, excepting Maine, Vermont, New 
Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In Massachu- 
setts, all voters, white or black, were required to be able to 
read and write their names. In Rhode Island the ballot was 
only given to every male citizen, white or black, who owned 
real estate worth one hundred and thirty-four dollars, or rent of 
seven dollars a year, or, if a native of the State, who paid an 
annual tax of one dollar. Proposed amendments to the con 
stitutions of the States of Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
and Colorado, by which the right to vote would be given to 
negroes, were voted upon in the fall by conventions of the peo- 
ple of those States, and were rejected in all. 

The total debt of the United States on the 31st of October 
was $2,804,549,437.50. The circulation outstanding was $704,- 
000,000, of which a little over $428,000,000 were in green- 
backs, $185,000,000 in national-bank notes, $65,000,000 in 
State-bank notes, and the remainder was in fractional ciu'- 
lency. 

Another attempt to lay the Atlantic Telegraph Cable was 
made in July, and was unsuccessful. The cable, stored on the 
mammoth steamship Great Eastern, left Valencia Bay on the 
23d, the heavy shore-end twenty-six miles long having been 
successfully laid on the preceding day, and spliced to the 
cable on board the steamer. On the 2d of August, when the 
steamer was ten hundred and sixty two miles from Valencia, 
and thirteen hundred and twelve miles of cable had been 
paid out, the cable chafed against the projecting lims of the 
hawse-holes, and finally broke, the end flying overboard, and 
in a few moments was lost in the ocean. About one half the 
entire length of the cable was overboard. Still it was hoped 
that it might be recovered, although the depth of water was 
twenty-five hundred fathoms. The Great Eastern steamed 
back a dozen miles and threw over a grapple attached to a 
wire-rope, capable of supporting a strain of ten tons; and the 
vessel steamed back and forth across the line in which the 
cable must lie. At 4 a.m. on the 3d of August, it was evident 
that the grapple had caught the cable, and the rope was hauled 
in. The strain of course increased with every foot of the ca- 
ble that was raised. In six hours eleven hundred and fifty 
fathoms had been brought on board, when the rope parted, 
and cable and grapple and rope sunk again to the bottom. 
But the experiment showed that it was possible to fish up the 
cable from the bottom of the ocean. During the next four 



HISTORY OF THE ITNITED STATES. 209 

days the weather was unfavorable, and nothing was accom- 
plished. Just before noon of the 7th another grapple was 
flung over, and after dragging until six p.m. the cable was 
again caught, and at eight the hauling in was begun. The 
next morning one thousand fathoms had been brought in when 
the rope broke. The 9th and 10th were spent in unavailing at- 
tempts to grapple the cable. In the afternoon of the 11th, it 
was again caught by the gi'apple, which was now attached to a 
rope composed of sixteen hundred fathoms of wire, the re- 
mainder of hemp. In three hours, when seven hundred and 
sixty fathoms had been hauled in, the rope broke, leaving 
seventeen hundred and fifty fathoms overboard. The Great 
Eastern, having no more rope on board for grappling, returned 
to England. 

Wall Street in August was startled by the failure of one of 
the wealthiest banking-houses of New York, and the discovery 
of forgeries to a large amount committed by Edward B. 
Ketchum, a junior partner of the firm. In addition, securities 
had been abstracted from the vaults to the amount of three 
millions of dollars or more. The forgeries were about one 
half that sum, and consisted of forged gold certificates pur 
porting to be signed by wealthy houses, which were negotiated 
at the banks as security for loans. 

The first sheet-zinc manufactured in the United States was 
made at Bethlehem, Pa., in March. 

Barnum's Museum, at the corner of Ann Street and Broad- 
waj% in New York, was destroj^ed by fire, with the contents, 
on the 13th of July. 

About twenty persons were burned to death, and half a mil- 
lion dollars' worth of property destroyed, at a fire in PhUadel 
phia on the 8th of February. 

On the 31st of March, the steam-tran.sport General Lyon, 
from Wilmington for Fortress Monroe, having on board be- 
tween five and six hundred persons, caugbt fire when off Cape 
Hatteras, and was entirely consumed, and nearly all of those 
on board perished. 

The following was the published scale of prices for paper in 
New York, in January: For note-paper, first-class, 55 to 60 
cents per pound; good, 50 to 55 cents; common, 45 to 50 cents; 
for letter and foolscap, five cents per pound less than note- 
paper; for news, rag, 22 to 25 cents; for news, straw, 20 to 22 
cents; for manilla ■^Tapping paper, 18 to 20 cents. 

The price for 3Iiddliug Uplands cotton in the New York 
market on the 1st of January, of this year, per pound, was 
118 to 120 cents; on the 1st of April, 45 to 48 cents; on the 1st 
of July, 43 cents, and on the 1st of October, 45 to 454 cents. 

The price for gold per ilollar was quoted in the New York 
market on the 1st of January, at 227| cents; on the 1st of 
April, 154 cents; on the 1st of July, 136A to 138 cents, and on 
the 1st of October, at 143i to 144 cents. 
1866 Hostility to President Johnson's policy in relation to the 
Southern States showed in Congress, and led to the appointment 



210 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

of a Joint Committee of Fifteen to consider Reconstruction ques- 
tions, soon after the opening of Congress in December, 1865. 
This action was the beginning of a disagreement between Con- 
gress and the President. At the instance of this committee, the 
Civil Rights Bill on the 9th of April was passed, and an act en- 
larging the scope of the Freedmen's Bureau. These acts were 
vetoed by the President, and passed over his vetoes . The Civil 
Rights Bill ordained that all persons born in the United States, 
and not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians not 
taxed, were to be citizens of the United States; and such citizens, 
of every race and color, without regard to any previous condition 
of slavery and involuntary service, except as a punishment 
for crime, whereof the party should have been duly convicted, 
should have the same right in every State and Territory to make 
and enforce contracts, to sue, to be sued, be parties and give 
evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real 
and personal propert3% and to have full and equal benefit of all 
laws and proceeclings for the security of person and property as 
are enjoyed by white citizens; and should be subject to like 
punishment, pains and penalties, and to none other; any law, 
•statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the contrary not- 
withstanding. President Johnson's objections were that the 
act was inexpedient, and that the subjects embraced in the 
enumeration of rights contained in the bill, had been considered 
as belonging exclusively to the States. On the 18th of June, 
the Committee on Reconstruction made a long report to Con- 
gress, declaring that none of the Southern States had yet placed 
itself in a position to secure satisfactory relations to the Union, 
or representatives in Congi-ess, and advised new legislation. On 
the 8th of July, Congress adopted a resolution proposing the 
Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, establishing the 
citizenship of all natives of this country, imposing legal disabili- 
ties on the Confederate leaders, and prohibiting the pajment of 
the rebel debt or pensions. 

On the 25th of July, Congress passed an act reviving the 
grade of general in the army, and creating the grades of admiral 
and vice-admiral in the navy. The title of general ^as bestowed 
upon Grant, and lieutenant-general upon Sherman, while those 
of admiral and vice-admiral were conferred upon Farragut and 
D. D. Porter. — 

There were two or more expeditions organized by the Fenians in 
the United States for an invasion of Canada and New Brunswick. 
One, numbering about five hundred men, quietly gathered 
in April, at Eastport, in Maine, with an intention of making a 
descent upon the island of Campobello, belonging to New 
Brunswick. After a delay of several days, which were spent 
in holding meetings and parading the streets of Eastport, a 
schooner arrived from Portland with seven hundred and fifty 
stand of arms from the Fenian sjTiipathizers in that city. The 
British consul at that port complained, and the arms were 
seized by the United States Government. A British war-steamer 
anchored off Campobello, and troops were summoned to prevent 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 211 

the invasion of the Province, and a detachment of United States 
troopi? were sent from Portland to Calais, at which point many 
of the Fenians had congi-egated. General Meade arrived oii 
the 19th of April, and assumed the command of the United 
States troops. A few daj's later, the Fenians, discouraged at 
the lack of support from their friends in New York, abandoned 
the enterprise and returned home. On the 19th of May, twelve 
hundred stand of arms were seized by the United States author- 
ities, at Rouse's Point, in New York, near the Canadian frontier. 
On tlie 30th of the same month, the Fenians, coming from dif- 
ferent parts of the country, assembled in secret convention at 
Buffalo. On the same day, twelve hundred stand of arms were 
seized at St Albans by the United States authorities. Canada 
was thoroughly aroused at the prospect of an invasion, and 
companies of troops were moving to the threatened points. On 
the 1st of June, a force of twelve to fifteen hundi'ed Fenians 
crossed the Niagara River at Buffalo, in canal-boats, and took 
possession of Fort Ei'ie, an old work then luioccupied. On the 
2d, a skirmish occurred between some Fenians and Canadian 
volunteers, in which some of the latter were reported killed and 
a large number wounded On the night of the same daj', the 
Fenians being without supplies, artillery, or reinforcements, at- 
tempted to retreat into the United States, but they were inter 
cepted by a United States gun-boat, and about seven hundred of 
their number arrested. General Barry, then in command of 
the United States forces in that vicinity, accepted a parole 
from over thirteen hundred of the Fenians, who promised to 
abandon the enterprise. The officers wen; relieved by giving 
bail that they would appear when required for trial for an iii- 
fL\ietion of the neutrality laws. Fenians, however, continued 
to arrive from various parts of the countrj', but were ordered 
home by their commanding officers. Simultaneously with the 
movement from Buffalo, Fenians were reported to be assem- 
bling on the border in Vermont, and Malone, N. Y., and General 
Meade, commanding the United States troops, proceeded to 
Ogdensburg to commence operations for preventing the invasion. 
On the 7th of June, the Fenians, numbering over one thousand, 
crossed the frontier and took possession of St. Armand, which 
had been evacuated by the Canadians. On the same day one 
of the chief officers of the Fenian organization in the United 
States was arrested at St. Albans, Vt., another at New York, 
and several other leaders at Buffalo. On the 9th, upon the ad- 
vance of the Canadian troops at St. Armand, the Fenians re- 
tired and recrossed the frontier. General Meade arrested large 
numbers of the Fenians, accepted their parole, and provided 
them means of transportation, for all who required it, to their 
homes. 

A severe hail-storm passed over Baltimore, on the night of 
May 1st. Manj^ of the hailstones measured from three to four 
inches in circumference. The destruction of window-glass was 
very gi'eat, the amount being computed at twenty thousand 
panes. On the southern and eastern sides of the city, where 



212 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

the stomi spent its fury, there was hardly a ■window facing 
north that was not shattered. The churches, public buildings, 
and buildings with sky-lights sufl'ered severely 

On the 4th of July, a conflagration in Portland, Me., de 
stroyed fully a third part of the city, including almost the en- 
tire business portion and a great part of the churches and public 
buildings. Fully a quarter of tlie population were rendered 
homeless. The entire loss was estimated at ten millions of dol 
lars, endured by a population of forty thousand. 

The Atlantic telegraph-cable was safely laid, and was put 
in successful operation in the month of July. The work was 
begun on the 6th by landing the shore end at Valencia, in Ire- 
land. On the 13th the deep sea line was spliced to the shore 
end, and the Great Eastern, with the cable on board, accom- 
panied by three consorts, set out on the voyage. Not a single 
misadventure occurred, and on the 28th the vessels reached 
Newfoundland. The whole distance sailed by the fleet was 
sixteen hundred and eighty -six nautical miles, and the length 
of cable paid out eighteen hundred and sixty six miles. The 
rate of sailing was singularly uniform, the least distance made 
in a single day being one himdred and five miles, the greatest 
one hundred and twenty -eight. 

The price of Middling Uplands cotton in the New York 
market, on the 1st of January this year, was 52 to 53 cents; on 
the 1st of April, 40 to 42 cents; on the 1st of July, 36 to 38 
cents; and on the 1st of October, 40 to 42 cents. 

The price of gold per dollar, as quoted, in New York on the 
1st of January, of this year, was 144| cents; on the 1st of April, 
127f to 128i; on the 1st of July, 151i to 153|; and on the 1st 
of October, 145 to 146. 
1867 Congress passed several bills relative to the elective franchise 
which the President vetoed, and it then passed them over his 
veto. In March, it passed a law declaring no legal govern- 
ments existed in the South, and ordering that region to be 
divided into five military districts, with military governors, the 
existing governments to be deemed provisional imtil the States 
were admitted to Congress. This bill was also vetoed, and 
passed over the veto. On the 23d of March, a law was passed 
for a registration of the votes of the South under the direction 
of the military governors. The Presicleiit carried out these 
laws, but came into conflict with Mr. Stanton, Secretary of 
War, as to details, and on the 5th of August called for his resig- 
nation. It was refused the same day. On the 12th of August 
he suspended Stanton and appointed General Grant as Acting 
Secretary, and Grant had charge of the ofl3ce until the next 
January, Early in the next session of Congress the impeach- 
ment of the President was proposed in the House of Represen- 
tatives, but was disagreed to. 

On the 7th of September, the President proclaimed amnesty 
to all but a few of the Southeni oflicials. 

Jeiferson Davis, on a writ of habeas corpus, was taken from 
Fortress Monroe, arraigned for high-treason, and released 



HISTORY OF THE U:N^1TED STATES. 213 

on bail. The trial was set for November, but postponed until 
the following March. It never came off. 

By act of Congress, Nebraska was admitted into the Union as 
a State. 

On the 30th of March a treaty was signed by the j^lenipo- 
tentiary of the Emperor of Russia and the President of the 
United States, the ratifications of which by the respective pow- 
ers were exchanged on the 20th of June following, whereby 
the tract of land in America known as Russian America was 
ceded to the United States, for the consideration of the sum of 
seven millions two hundred thousand dollars. The formal 
transfer was made on the 9th of October, General Rosecrans, 
on behalf of the United States Government, taking jDossession at 
New Archangel, on the island of Sitka. The area of this new 
territory, which subsequently was named Alaska, is estimated 
at five hundred thousand square miles, with a coastline greater 
than that of the United States on the Atlantic Ocean and the 
Gulf of Mexico. 

The first gold and stock telegraph company organized in 
this country was incorporated in New York, on the 16th of 
August. The purpose of the company was the instantaneous 
and simultaneous supply of quotations of the sales of stocks, 
gold, and other values made at the Stock, Gold, and other 
Exchanges. 

The Cincinnati Suspension Bridge across the Ohio River, 
and connecting Covington, Ky., with Cincinnati, was com- 
pleted and opened for travel, this year. The Hudson River 
Bridge at Albany, forming a connecting link between the New 
York Central Railroad on the west with the Boston and Al- 
bany on the east, was completed and opened for travel. 

In the summer and autumn the yellow-fever raged at New 
Orleans and other places in the Southwest. About twenty-five 
hundred died from the disease in that city. In Galveston and 
throughout the coast portions of Texas it was still more 
severe. There were many cases in Mobile, Natchez, Vicks- 
burg, and other towns on the Mississippi River. At Quaran- 
tine, New York, there were three hundred and ninety cases, 
of which one hundred and twelve were fatal. 

On the 23d of January, the East River between Brooklyn 
and New York was bridged over with ice, and five thousand 
persons crossed, as estimated. 

Towards the close of this year the price of news paper was 
reduced to sixteen cents a pound. 

The price of gold this year ranged between 133 and 143, 
withovit much fluctuation. 
1868 The disagreement between Congress and the President in- 
creased. On the 13th of January, the Senate refused to conciu' 
in Stanton's suspension. Grant promptly vacated the office. 
On the 21st of February the President ordered Stanton's re- 
moval, and directed Adjutant- General Thomas to take charge 
as Secretary ad interim. Stanton refused to vacate, and had 
Thomas temporarily arrested on the 22d. The same day the 



214 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

House voted to impeach the President for his conduct iu this 
matter. On the 2d and 3d of March the indictment was per- 
fected, and included certain threats and speeches of the Presi- 
dent against Congress. The case came to trial before the 
Senate, March 23d, and lasted until May 26th, there being 
thirtj^-two days in all of the actual trial. The vote Avas thirty- 
tive for " Guilty" and nineteen for " Not Guilty," but convic- 
tion was lost for lack of a constitutional majority. Therefore 
the Chief Justice entered a verdict of acquittal. 

In June, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 
Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana were admitted to representa- 
tion in Congress, and reconstruction in their cases was thus 
completed. 

At the presidential election of this year the candidates of the 
Republican party were General U. S. Grant for President, 
and Schuyler Colfax for Vice-President. Those of the Demo- 
cratic party were Horatio Seymour for President, and Frank 
P. Blair for Vice-President. The platform adopted by the 
Republicans at their national convention sustained the meas- 
ures of Congress and denoimced those of the President, while 
that of the Democrats sustained the principles advocated by 
the President and opposed the measures of Congress. The 
Republican candidates received the electoral votes of twenty-si.x 
States, two hundred and nine in all; the Democratic, those of 
eight States, casting eightj'-tive electoral votes. 

Congress authorized the formation of Wyoming into a Terri- 
tory, and extended the laws of the United States to Alaska, and 
formed that Territory into one collection-district. The Presi- 
dent was given power to regulate the importation of arms, am- 
munition, and spirits into Alaska, and the Secretary of the 
Treasurj- to regulate the fur-trade and seal-hunting there. 

The Secretary of State, on the 20th of July, officially an- 
nounced that the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution 
had been accepted by three fourths of the States, thereby be- 
coming a part of the Constitution of the United Slates. 

On the 25th of December, the President issued a proclama- 
tion granting amnesty to all, without exception, who had par- 
ticipated in the late rebellion. 

A calamitous earthquake occurred on the Pacific coast on the 
21st of October. The first shock, which was the heaviest, was 
felt a little before eight o'clock in the~morning, at Sau Fran- 
cisco. The worst consequences were experienced on the made 
ground and the flats, where the foundations of the buildings 
were unstable. Few structures in that part of the city escaped 
damage. In one place the ground sunk for a foot or two; in 
another, the cobble-stones in the street sunk away from the curb 
stone to the depth of a foot, and the asphaltum sidewalks were 
twisted and torn out of shape. The walls of the City Hall 
were split, and several stones in the front wall fell out. Owing 
to the shattered condition of the custom-house, the business 
was removed to other places. The post-oflice was also dam- 
aged, and many stores and dwellings were so badlv injured 



HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATKS. 215 

that it was found necessaiy to take them down entirely. Five 
persons were killed by falling chimneys. In other places in 
California the earthquake was severely felt, lives were lost, and 
much property damaged. 

The Patapsco River, in Maryland, was flooded in July, and 
almost destroyed Ellicott City, causing considerable loss of life. 
In Baltimore, several streets were overflowed, with great dam- 
age, which, in and about the city, was estimated at three mil- 
lions of dollars. 

The most destructive fire that ever visited Chicago, up to this 
period, occurred there on the 28th of January, burning one en- 
tire block, and buildings elsewhere from falling cinders, ^\^th 
a loss of about three millions of dollars. 

Fort Lafayette, in New York harbor, w^as destroyed by fire 
on the 1st of December. 

The bridge across the Mississippi River at Quincj', 111., was 
opened for travel on the 7th of November. 
1869 Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax commenced their 
terms of olfice on the 4th of March, as President and Vice- 
President. 

Congress, in February, adopted a resolution proposing a Fif- 
teenth Amendment to the Constitution, giving the colored peo- 
ple the elective franchise. 

The right of suffrage was granted to women b}^ the legisla- 
tures of the Territories of AVyoming and Utah. Women were 
also ordained as deacons in the First Presbyterian Church in 
Philadelphia, and were allowed to practise law in Kansas by 
an act of the legislature. 

Prominent in the annals of Wall Street were the events which 
occurred on Friday, the 24th of September — a day which has 
since been designated as " Black Friday. " For some time be- 
fore a feeling prevailed that speculating in gold, which had 
been extensivelj' engaged in throughout the war, was rapidly 
drawing to a close, and that the countrj" would soon return to 
specie payments. In the spring of this year gold fell to 131, at 
which price a clique of speculators in New Yoi'k purchased 
several millions, and then, inducing several newspapers to mag- 
nify the probability that difficulties would arise from the Ala- 
bama claims, a European war, the Cuban insurrection, and vari- 
ous other matters, they pushed up the price to 145, and gathered 
a rich harvest. The price again fell to 131, and there was a gen- 
eral belief that it would soon drop to 120. It was at this time 
that a conspiracy was formed among several speculators to con- 
trol an immense amount of gold, and advance the price. The 
financial policy of the government, requiring the payment of 
duties in gold, continuously created an imperative and legiti- 
mate demand for it. By the operations of that cliqiie the price 
w'as advanced to 141 by Wednesday, the 22d of September. 
Stocks, always sj'mpathizing with a marked change in the 
value of specie, on that day greatly fluctuated in price, amidst 
great excitement on the Stock Exchange, causing more sm-prise 
than the advance in gold. New York Central fell twentj'-two 



216 HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES. 

per cent in about as many minutes, and then fluctuated on a 
range of eight or ten per cent tlirough the remainder of the 
day. Hudson River fell thirteen points, and other stocks sym 
pathized in the fall, placing dealers in great straits. Brokers 
called on their customers to increase their margins, Avhich the 
day had wiped out. The money market became verj- tight, 
and high rates were paid so that balances could be carried 
over until the next day. When the dealings of Thursday 
morning opened it was at once made evident that the clique 
was in the ascendant, for gold continued to advance. The 
margins that had been increased with great difficulty the night 
before were again swept away, and there was a new call for 
their increase. This was beyond the power of all but the 
strongest operators. All the small and medium speculators 
failed, or settled their obligations on the best terms they could. 
The wealthy dealers only defied the clique. This was a day of 
excitement, of rushing, and of alternating hope and fear, such 
as had rarely, if ever, been witnessed, even in the times of the 
war. The day closed with gold at 144. On the morning of 
the eventful 24th, New Street, and everj^ passage leading to the 
Gold Room, was completely blocked up by one dense mass of 
humanity, all under the gix-atest state of excitement. At the 
opening of the Board the price of gold was 150 — an advance of 
six per cent on that of the highest of the day before. It was 
now well known that the clique themselves held in gold and 
contracts for delivery something like one hundred and twenty 
millions, while all the current gold in New York could be 
scarcely more than twenty millions. The government alone 
could break the corner by the sale of gold in the sub-treasury, 
but the deaf ear which had been turned to appeals to Washing- 
ton, if it did not confirm the boast of the clique that members 
of the government were in league with them, at least destro\'ed 
all hope of relief from that quarter. At eleven o'clock the 
price was 155; at half-past eleven 160, and then, 162 and 164. 
In the midst of the wildest excitement, when the price was 
vibrating at the highest points, a messenger arrived in the Gold 
Room with the news that the government would sell gold, and 
upon the amount being known, the price instantly fell to 135. 
The power of the clique was at once broken, and the most dar 
ing plot ever known was defeated, and the great crisis was at 
an end; but so large had been the deiUings Ihat the Gold Ex 
change Bank, which was the agent to settle the clearings, had 
not yet been able to foot up and settle the transactions of the 
preceding day, so there was still doubt and uncertainty, and 
the shadow of disaster continued to darken Wall Street and its 
ramifications. The calamity to the business community which 
the clique had spread was now felt, and so great was the indig 
dation against its members that they weix' obliged to conceal 
themselves for safety. The most persistent efforts were made 
to implicate the President in their transactions, and Congress 
appointed a connnittee to investigate the charge, but they 
proved to be entirely witliout foundation. 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 217 

One of the most, if not the most, remarkable contests in rail- 
way strife known in this or any other country, took place 
over the possesssion of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad, 
connecting Albany with the Erie at Biughamton. After 
seventeen years of desperate struggle for existence, through re- 
peated discouragements and many suspensions of work upon 
its construction, the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad was 
finally completed in January of this year. It had been pro- 
jected and built, as a purely local enterprise, to benefit the 
towns through which it ran, and for this reason had received 
some aid from the State, and the towns along the line had sub- 
scribed for some of its stock ; but, as soon as all the difficulties 
were surmounted, and the road was finished, it was found to 
be of greater value than for local use. If run in connection 
with the Erie road, it formed the necessary connecting link to 
render that road a rival of the New York Central for the through 
business between New England and the West It was of still 
greater value in affording the anthracite-coal regions of North- 
eastern Pennsylvania a more direct communication with New 
England and the country north of Albany, and, as such, was 
destined to destroy a very profitable part of the business of the 
branch of the Erie road running to Newburgh. In view of 
these facts, the managers of the Erie determined to secure the 
control of the Albany and Susquehanna, by procuring the elec- 
tion of its officers among their friends at the coming election- 
day, in September. For that purpose, the}^ set out to procure 
the control, by purchase and otherwise, of a majority of the 
stock. The president of the Albany and Susquehanna Rail- 
road, Mr. Ramsey, together with his friends, who were opposed 
to the measures of the Erie managers, were determined to resist 
them, and retain the control of the road in their own interests. 
On the 3d of August the treasurer refused to transfer some 
stock, offered for that purpose by the Eric party, on the ground 
that it was illegally procured. A war of injunctions followed, 
the Erie party having a pliant judge at New York who issued 
anything asked for. At length an angry assertion of con- 
flicting rights prevailed at the oflices of the company at Al- 
bany, and became so serious that the police had to be called in 
to preserve order. Opposing injunctions still continued, and 
rival receivers of the road were appointed. The Ramsey re 
ceiver held possession of the Albany end of the road, and the 
Erie receiver of that at Binghamton. An Erie superintendent 
was put in charge at that place, and a train standing at the 
station ready to start was not permitted to proceed till an Erie 
engine had been substituted, an Erie conductor placed in 
charge, and an Erie sheriff placed on board to distribute Erie 
injunctions and writs of assistance, and replace all employes 
by Erie sympathizers wherever the train stopped. The doings 
of the Erie men had been telegraphed to Albany, and the 
Ramsey party had become fully roused, and determined on the 
most decisive measures. The trains of the two contending 
parties were closely approaching each other, when the Erie 



218 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

train, while nearing Bainbridge station, was hostilely switched 
on to a side-track, and the Albany train passed on the 
main line behind the other, stopped, and then made the Erie 
party prisoners. The Ramsey party, on the following morn- 
ing, started again towards Binghamton. They removed the 
Erie men placed in charge of that part of the line, and restored 
the former employes. All went smoothly till they reached a 
timnel, about two hundred feet in length, about fifteen miles 
from Binghamton. At this point they received news of 
a new Erie train that had come up from Einghamton with 
several hundred men to give them battle. The Erie party num- 
beied about eight hundred ; the Ramsej^ about half that num- 
ber. The Erie men put together the hea\iest train they could 
make up, filled it with men, and started through the timnel. 
They found a single rail removed by their opponents. This 
was replaced, and once more they moved forward, having now 
a down grade. The Ramsey train moved too, and as the Erie 
train tairned a sharp corner, it became suddenly aware of the 
approach of their enemy, under full headway, with the mani- 
fest intention of a collision. The collision happened, and the 
shock and panic to Erie was complete. The men leaped from 
the train, and, without stopping to see what had happened, 
ran for the Binghamton side of the tunnel with their utmost 
speed, some running through the tunnel, and others over the 
hill above it. They were pursued, with shouts, by the Ramsey 
men, who threw at them sticks, stones, and other missiles. 
Matters soon assumed such a serious aspect that the civil 
authorities of Broome Coimty called upon the military for as- 
sistance, and a regiment was sent to the scene of the riot, and 
soon the disturbance was quelled. At length the governor of 
the State was summoned from a pleasure-excursionto effect the 
safe running of trains, and to adopt measures that the courts 
had failed to accomplish. Finding that he could not induce 
harmony betv.-een the rival factious, he took possession of the 
road in the name of the State, and appointed two members of 
his staff to nm it until the difliculties could be settled judicially. 
The courts finally decided in favor of the Ramsey party, and 
mulcted the Erie managers in a large amount, to indemnify the 
road for damages. 

The laying of a submarine telegraphic cable from Brest, 
(France) to the island of St. Pierre, near the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence, and thence to Duxbury, on the coast of Massachusetts, 
was successfully act'omplished in July. The length of the line 
is about 3047 miles, and was laid by a company chartered by 
the French Government. 

The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railroads were 
completed on the 10th of May, the last rail being laid on that 
day, when a continuous line of rail was formed across the con- 
tinent. On the 15th trains commenced running regularly over 
the line. The construction of the roads was commenced in 
1863, but no considerable amount of work was accomplished 
till 1865. In that year over one hundred miles were graded 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 219 

and bridged on the Union Pacific, and rails laid upon forty 
miles. In 1866, two hundred and sixty-five miles of road were 
completed ; in 1867, two hundred and forty -five; and in 1868, 
three hundred and fifty miles. The route for the eastern por- 
tion of the Union Pacific is up the valley of the Platte River, 
which has a course nearly due east from the base of the moun- 
tains. The slope of the valley is very nearly uniform towards 
the Missouri, at the rate of about ten feet to the mile. Cheyenne, 
at the base of the mountains, is elevated 6063 feet above the 
sea, and 5093 above Omaha. From Cheyenne to the summit 
of the mountains, which is eight thousand two hundred and 
forty-three feet above the sea, the distance is thirty two miles. 
After crossing the eastei-n crest of the mountains, the line tra- 
verses an elevated table-land for about four hundred miles to 
the western crest of the mountains, at an elevation of seven 
thousand five hundred and fifty feet above the sea. Upon 
this elevated table-land is a succession of extensive plains, 
which afforded great facilities for the construction of the road . 
The Central Pacific Railroad Company was organized under 
the general railroad law of California, with authority to con- 
struct a railroad from Sacramento to the eastern boundary of 
that State. By act of Congi-ess, July 1, 1862, it was author- 
ized to construct the western portion of the Pacific Railroad, in 
the government territory, to a junction with the Union Pacific, 
and the same provision for government aid was made in its 
favor as in the case of that road. The crossing of the Sierra 
Nevada mountains, at an elevation of 7050 feet above the level 
of the sea, in a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, was 
considered a great achievement in civil-engineering. The work 
of construction was commenced in Februaiy, 1863. The road 
from Sacramento to Colfax is one hundred and sixtj'-five 
miles in length, and was completed in September, 1865. It 
was continued to Cisco, ninety -four miles, by November, 1866 ; 
to the summit of the Sierra Nevada, one hundred and live miles 
farther, in July, 1867 ; to the Nevada line, one hiuidred and 
thirty -eight miles more, in January, 1868 ; to Monument Point, 
six hundred and sixty-seven miles, in April of this year; and to 
a junction with the Union Pacific, eight hundred and eighty- 
one miles in all, on the 10th of May. 

On the 6th of September, a disaster occurred in the Avondale 
coal-mine, in Luzerne County, Pa., resulting in the loss of one 
hundred and eight lives. While the miners were engaged at 
work in the mine, the shaft, constructed chiefly of combustible 
material, took tire, and soon the only entrance to the mine was 
filled with burning timbers, fire, and smoke. No assistance 
could be rendered the sufferers from without, and, there being- 
no means of escape, all of the unfortunate inmates perished. 

A disastrous flood occiured in portions of Texas, in July, in 
consequence of heavy rains of three daj^s' continuance. The 
Guadalupe, Cormal, Nevada, San Marcos, and Colorado rivers, 
and Peach Creek, rose to the height of forty-seven feet above 
their ordinary level, which was never before known. The 



220 IIISTOEY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

lands on each side, to the distance, in many places, of ten 
miles and more, were completely submerged, the crops and 
stores destroyed, and not only all the bridges and mills on the 
banks were swept away, but the cabins of the negroes and 
farm-houses far inland were overturned and carried off. The 
city of San Antonio and the town of La Grange suffered 
severely, and many of the inhabitants were lost. The loss of 
pioperty was immense, the damage on the Colorado alone being 
estimated at three millions of dollars. 
1870 Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas were admitted to 
representation in Congress. On the 30th of March the Secretary 
of State issued a proclamation announcing the ratification of 
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Reconstruction, 
in form, was now finished, although further legislation to en- 
force the new amendment and authorizing the use of troops at 
the polls followed. 

Congress, in May, passed a bill chartering the Northern 
Pacific Railroad Company. In June, an act was passed re- 
ducing the tax on incomes to two and a half per cent, and in- 
creasing the exemption to two thousand dollars. An act was 
also passed providing for the redemption of the three-per-cent 
loan certificates, and for an increase of the national-bank notes; 
also a bill to authorize the refunding of the national debt, at 
lower rates of interest. 

The Kansas Pacific Railroad, extending from Kansas Citj^. 
Mo., to Denver, in Colorado, was completed on the 15tb of 
August. 

On the 20th of October, the shock of an earthquake was felt 
in Northeastern America, from New Brunswick to Iowa, and 
from the river St. Lawrence to Cincinnati and Richmond. 
The occurrence was so rare in that region the phenomenon ex- 
cited more than ordinary attention; in cities, where there are 
many tall buildings, the earthquiike was particularly notice- 
able. In New York, the upper floors of some buildings were so 
shaken that the workmen engaged in their occupations lied to the 
street in alarm; at a public school in Fom-teenth Street, where 
there were twelve hundred children, it caused a panic among 
them, and it was with difficulty the teachers prevented a catas- 
trophe in the rush to the street. The severest effects of the 
earthquake were felt in Scranton, Pa.: Cooperstown, Rondout, 
Hudson, and Troy, in New York; Monfpelier, Vt.; Boston, and 
New Haven. 

In the latter part of September, the vallej's of the James and 
Shenandoah rivers in Virginia, were visited by a sudden and 
disastrous flood, such as had not occurred before during the 
century. In less than two days the water in the James River 
rose about twenty -four feet; a large poition of the city of 
Richmond was flooded, and great damage was done to 
property. The rise in the Shenandoah River was nearly twice 
that of the James. The destruction of propert}' in the counties 
of Rockingham, Shenandoah, Page, Warren, Clarke, and Jef- 
ferson was very great, including the entire crops of corn and 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 221 

hay, with the unthreshed crops of wheat, rye, and oats, along 
the river bottoms. So sudden was the rise of water, the people 
in the lowlands had no time to preserve their property. Dwell- 
ings, mills, bridges, fences, barns, and manufacturing estab- 
lishments were swept away, and hundreds of laborers were 
deprived of employment. At Harper's Ferry a large part of 
the town was submerged, many substantial buildings were de- 
stroyed, and forty lives lost. The loss of property by the flood 
was estimated at not less than three millions of dollars. 

A calamity occurred at Richmond, Va., on the 29th of April, 
by which about sixty persons were killed and more than twice 
that number injured. A case which had excited unusual in- 
terest in the comnuinity was to be decided on that day in the 
Court of Appeals, and an immense crowd of people, including 
many ladies, gathered in the gallery of the court-room, which 
was in the second story of the capitol. Suddenly the over- 
weighted gallery fell on to the floor, which then broke through, 
j'.nd the whole mass of human beings, and debris, were precipi- 
tated into the hall of the House of Delegates below. 
1871 In March, Congress passed an Appropriation Bill and, by a 
clause in it, the President was authorized to prescribe such rules 
and regulations for the admission of persons into the civil ser- 
vice of the United States as would best promote its efSciency, 
and ascertain the titness of each candidate in respect to age, 
health, character, knowledge, and ability for the service into 
which he might seek to enter. The President, accordingly, 
appointed six persons as commissioners to devise a plan where- 
by the reform could best be carried out, and the}' made their 
report in November. 

In July, disclosures were made to the public, by means of the 
newspaper press, of a conspiracy of some of the officials of the 
city of New York, which revealed a plot to rob that city to a 
very large amount, and which proved to be one of the most 
colossal frauds ever achieved upon any community, the col 
lective perpetrators of which being subsequentlj- denominated 
as the "Tweed Ring." In the summer of 1868 a plot was 
formed in the city to carry the State, in the coming election, 
for the Democratic party. When the polls closed on election 
day, the result in the several counties was telegraphed to Wil- 
liam M. Tweed, chairman of the General Committee of Tam- 
many Hall. The count in New York City was delayed, and 
Democratic votes were returned as having been cast in the citj' 
in sufficient number to carry the State. The scheme thus car- 
ried out gave Mr. Tweed great power in both the State Govern 
ment and that of New York City. In the city he was virtually 
political dictator. The affairs of the city had been corruptly 
managed for several years, and a plan was now formed to en- 
rich Tweed and his immediate friends by robbing the city treas- 
ury. The construction of a new County Court-House was 
arranged for, the estimated cost which was two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars, but the real cost of which might be made 
to reach several millions. In the following year, the building 



222 HISTORY OF the united states. 

was begun. The contractors for labor, materials, and supplies 
were required to increase their bills. The bills were passed by 
the Board of Supervisors at the dictation of Tweed, who was 
a member of the Board. They were audited by Auditor Wat- 
son, his tool. The contractors received the amount due them, 
and from fifteen to sixty-five per cent of the total bills was di- 
vided by Tweed and his friends amongst themselves. Tweed's 
share was usually twenty-tive per cent. In 1870, for the first 
time in seventeen years, the Democrats, led by Tweed, now 
had complete control of the State Government of New 
York. The city government of New York was solidlj^ Demo- 
cratic. In the early part of the j'ear, by the free use of money, 
Tweed, who was a State Senator as well as Commissioner of 
Public Works in the city, secured the passage of a new city 
charter. The power of auditing bills was taken from the Boanl 
of Supervisors, and placed in the hands of a board of audit, 
composed of A. Oakey Hall, Mayor; Richard B. Connolly, 
Comptroller; William M. Tweed, Commissioner of Public 
Works; and Peter B. Sweeney, Commissioner of Parks. The 
contractors on the new Court-House were required to make out 
claims for imaginary services, and these bills, to the amount of 
six millions of dollars, were passed at one meeting. Auditor 
Watson was then authorized to certify all subsequent bills, the 
members of the Board signing them separately. More than 
half the amount of these bills passed into the pockets of the 
Ring. Over one million of the six millions, before referred to, 
was traced to Tweed. Before the end of that year, the fraudu- 
lent expenditures on the Court House had reached over eight 
millions of dollars. To silence criticism, Tweed filled the pay- 
rolls of the city government with multitudes of men, drawing 
large salaries, who never performed any work, and gave profit- 
able contracts to others at enormous figures. Checks were given 
for salaries larger than Governors'. Police Justices were given 
larger compensation than the Chief Justice of the United States. 
The expenses of the city reached twenty-four millions of dol- 
lars a year, or nearly as much as under the entire civil list of 
the United States Government. The politics of the city were 
completely debauched. Every influential thief, gambler, and 
ward politician rolled in money, and shone in diamonds and 
costly chains. A carnival of vice reigned in every quarter of 
the city. In two years, Tweed bought one million three hun- 
dred and forty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dol- 
lars of real estate, and, in partnership with Sweeney, Connoll}'. 
and others, five hundred thousand dollars more. During th;il 
year a rebellion broke out against Tweed, in which ex-Sheriff 
James O'Brien and State Senator Harry Genet were prominent. 
It was the belief that some of the disaffected ones nierelj' had 
in view a larger share of the plunder, but O'Brien made his op- 
position effectual by giving to The New York Tiwes the facts 
about the robberies by the Ring. After several significant hints, 
as early as May of this year, that newspaper, in July, disclosed 
the operations of the Ring. People were slow to believe. On 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 223 

the 4tb of September, a mass meeting of citizens was lieM at 
Cooper Institute, and a Committee of Seventy was appointed to 
investigate and punisb. Governor Hoffman delegated bis powers 
in the premises to Charles O'Conor, an eminent lawyer. The 
Comptrollerwaspromptly enjoined f rompayingany more claims. 
Soon afterwards, the Comptroller resigned; he was arrested, re- 
leased on five hundred thousand dollars bail, and tied from 
the country. In the next year (1872) a number of suits Avere 
brought against Tweed. A. Oakey Hall was tried in March, 
but a iuror died and the trial was interrupted. He was tried 
again, when the jury disagreed. In 187B, Tweed was tried 
from January 6th to the 31st; the jury disagreed. A second 
trial, lasting from November 5th toi9tb, resulted in conviction 
on every one of the fifty-one coimts in the indictment. Tweed 
wassentenced totwelveyears' imprisonment onBlack well'slsland 
and to pay a heavy fine. In April, 1875, a civil suit was begun 
in the Supreme Court against Tweed to recover six million one- 
hundred and ninety-eight thousand nine hundred and fiftj^ dol 
lars. In the January following, the Court of Appeals decided 
that Tweed could be no longer imprisoned, because he had been 
confined on a cumulative sentence. He was discharged on 
June 23, 1875, but rearrested on an old indictment. He was 
held to find fifteen thousand dollars bail in the criminal charge, 
and thi-ee million dollars bail in the civil suit. December 4tb, 
while on a visit from Ludlow Street Jail to his house, in cus- 
tody of oflicers, he escaped, and made his way to sea in a yacht. 
In 1876, Tw^eed was recaptured at Vigo, Spain, and brought 
back to New York in November. On January 13th of the 
same year, the civil suit against him was brought to trial, and 
on March 8th a verdict was obtained for six million five bun 
dred and thirty -seven thousand one hundred and seventeen dol 
lars and thirty -eight cents, of which one million eight hundred 
and seventeen thousand one Imndred and seventj^-seven dollars 
and three cents was for interest. He was, after his recapture, 
sent back to prison on Blackwell's Island. On the 12tb of 
April, 1878, Tweed died in arison. The Ring had bj^ that time 
been completely scattered and crushed; but the city never re- 
covered more than a small prt of its stolen millions 

Serious troubles between the operators and miners in the 
anthracite coal region in Pennsylvania, commencing in the pre- 
ceding fall, were continued and increased imtil their culmina- 
tion in the summer of this year. It began in the upper 
Wyoming region, where the wages of miners, as announced, 
w^ould be reduced. A strike was ordered by the Working 
Men's Benevolent Association, a united and compact organiza- 
tion, chartered by the Legislature, and embracing nearly all the 
entire laboring population of the coal country, and formed with 
the contemplated object of securing employment to its mem- 
bers, and preventing a reduction of wages. In January, by 
order of this Association, the strike was continued throughout 
the Schuylkill, Lehigh, and Lower Wyoming districts. In the 
early part of April, serious disturbances occurred in the section 



224 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

about Scranton, between members of the Association and the 
non-imion men, and their employment was stopped at the 
mines, the strikers having torn up the track, demolished the 
cars, and otherwise damaging the works. The operators and 
miners throughout tlie coal region at last came to a compromise, 
and work was resumed. 

Water was brought into Providence by aqueduct, and on the 
80th of November the event was celebrated. 

A scries of earthquakes, computed at over seven thousand 
different shocks, occurred during a space of two weeks in 
February, in California, at several points. In Napa County, 
in Cram Valley, and in the region of Owen's Lake and River, 
they were felt more severely, and particularly at the latter 
point. Huge fissures were rent in the earth, and for several 
miles an embankment of earth was raised where previously it 
had been a plain. The water of the river and lake ebbed almost 
to drj^ness, and then returned in gi-eat volume and overflowed 
the adjacent countiy. Thirty to forty persons were killed by 
the earthquake. 

On the 7th of October, a large fire occurred at Chicago, 
which involved a loss of one million of dollars, and it was 
succeeded by the most disastrous conflagration ever before 
witnessed in the annals of this country. This last great fire 
commenced on Saturday evening, October 9th, and continued 
to rage on the forenoon of the following day. The estimated 
number of lives lost was two hundred and fifty ; of persons 
rendered homeless, ninety-eighty thousand five hundred ; of 
buildings consumed, seventeen thousand five hundred ; and the 
value of the property destroyed, one hundred and ninety- 
two millions of dollars. It included the business and the best 
built portion of the city. The total area burned over, including 
streets, the pavements of which were generally rendered worth- 
less, was two thousand acres. The fire did its work so com- 
pletely, that in not more than a dozen cases were the chimneys 
or fire-walls of the great blocks or any of the buildings left 
standing. It was possible, standing on the gi-ound, to see across 
the buined district for two or three miles without anything to 
obstruct the vision, where, before the fire, were stand'ing huge 
blocks of buildings of stone and brick. 

In October, extensive fires raged in the timber districts of 
Wisconsin, Central Minnesota, and MicHigan, sweeping away 
towns and villages in their path; and in three counties of Wis- 
consin the country was so desolated as to leave no vestige of 
propeily remaining to its owners but the bare land. On the 
east shore of Lake Michigan, the towns of Manistee and Hol- 
land were almost entirely destroyed. Fires prevailed through- 
out all the pine country bordering on Lake Michigan, Green 
Bay, and the southern shore of Lake Huron. It was estimated 
that 'fifteen thousand people in Michigan lost homes, clothing, 
crops, farm-stock, and other possessions, by the fire. 

A serious riot occurred in New York on the 12th of July, 
arising out of a feud existing between the Irish Protestants, or 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 225 

Orangemen, and the Roman Catholics The Orangemen pro- 
posed to parade the streets on that day in celebration of the 
Battle of the Boyne, and threats of an attack upon their proces- 
sion were made. To prevent a disturbance, the police authorities 
issued an order forbidding the parade, but which upon the re 
quest of the Governor of the State was revoked. A large body 
of the police and several regiments were put under orders to 
protect the procession. At one point an assault was made by 
the crowd, which was repulsed by the military, and in the 
affray that ensued, over one hundred persons were killed or 
wounded. 

On the 27th of January, the steamer H. R. Arthur left 
Louisville for New Orleans, and when about fourteen miles 
above Memphis, her boilers exploded, the boat took fire, de- 
stroying by the catastrophe eighty-seven lives. On the 30th of 
July, the boiler of a Staten Island ferry-boat exploded as it was 
just starting out of its slip in New York, crowded with pas 
seugers, injuring two hundred persons, more than half fatally. 
1872 The work of reducing taxation continued. The tariff on tea, 
coffee, and some other articles was abolished ; that on some 
other imports reduced, and internal revenue was modified. By 
the law of 1870 most of the stamp tax had been abolished 
already, and the income tax expired with 1871. 

The "Alabama" claims of the United States against Great Brit 
ain, springing out of damage to American shipping by Confed- 
erate cruisers during the war, were arbitrated. Several of these 
cruisers had been built and equipped in British port«i, in vio- 
lation of ti'eaties, and had been the subject of dispute for years. 
By agreement the matter was submitted to five commissioners 
from Italy, Brazil, Switzerland, the United States, and England. 
For the acts of the Alabama, Florida, and Shenandoah, Great 
Britain was held liable, and $15,500,000 damages were award 
od to this country by the tribunal, which met at Geneva, 
Switzerland. Subsequently, Congress established a court of 
Alabama claims to distribute the money among the losers 
through the piracy in question. 

Extensive strikes occurred among the carpenters, bricklayers, 
and other workmen employed in building in New York City, 
beginning in April. From 40,000 to 50,000 were thus engaged. 
The several trades combined against the employers, and the 
latter combined in self-defence. Most of the laborers surrender- 
ed in June, having lost in the aggregate wages amounting t(r 
$1,400,000. The contractors and builders lost $1,100,000. 
General business was indirectly hurt to the extent of 
$5,760,000. The strike was not fairly under way until the 
middle of May. Then a mass meeting was held to discuss the 
gilevances of the workingmen. A number of allied trades, 
such as painters, upholsterers, cabinet-makers, sewing-machine 
makers, iron-founders and piano-makers, followed. There were 
strikes in other cities in the country at the same time, but none 
of great account. A crowd of strikers forcibly effected an en- 
trance into the Steinway piano factory, June 15th, to persuade 



22G HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

or force the remaining workmen there to leave. The police 
ejected the invadei's, but only after a violent struggle. This 
event and the shooting of a non-striking carpenter were the 
most serious acts of violence attending the strike. Serious 
trouble, however, was feared at one time, and the State militia 
were gotten in readiness to assist the police. Soon afterwards 
the workmen and employers came to an understanding. 

At the presidential election of this year Grant was re-elected 
President by 760,000 majority, the largest ever given at any 
national election in this country. He carried all but seven 
States. His associate on the Republican ticket was Henry 
Wilson, of Massachusetts. The Democrats ratified as candidate 
for President and Vice-President Horace Greeley, of New York, 
and B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, who had first been nomi- 
nated by the Liberal Republicans. These men had formerly 
acted with the Republican party, but in this year withdrew, 
criticising the use of troops in the South by the Federal Gov- 
ernment as an invasion of State rights, and demanding a re- 
form in the civil service. The Labor party nominated Charles 
O'Conor for President, with no candidate for Vice-President. 

During the year $200,000,000 of national bonds, drawing 6 
per cent interest, were exchanged for the same quantity of a 
new loan drawing only 5 per cent, and a year later $100,- 
000,000 more of the debt was similarly converted, a saving of 
.$3,000,000 in interest annuallj^ being thereby effected. Subse- 
quently, a large portion of the national debt was converted into 
4 and 4A per cent bonds. 

On the 27th of February, Congress passed a bill setting apart 
the Yellowstone Valley," in Montana and Wyoming Terri- 
tories, as a national park. 

The American District Telegraph Company was organized 
in New York for the purpose of connecting private residences 
with central telegraph stations. 

Up to July 1st the quantity of South Carolina phosphate 
shipped from Charleston was 242,415 tons, in the crude state, 
and 90,000 tons of manufactured. The first shipment was made 
in 1867. 

A remarkable epidemic among hor.xs prevailed in many parts 
of the country this year. It had been terribly severe in Canada, 
and early in October was reported in Boston, Buffalo, Rochester, 
and Syracuse, and it soon spread to other places. In some of 
the large cities it almost put an absolute stop to traffic, and in 
some cases the horse-railroads ceased running entirely for a 
time. 

A destructive conflagration began in Boston on the evening 
of the 9th of November, lasting twenty-four hours, and resuU- 
ingin the destruction of the very heart of the wholesale trade. 
From Summer Street north nearly to State Street, and from 
Washington Street east to the water's edge, with two or three 
small exceptions, there was nothing but rubbish remaining of 
the many hundi'eds of granite and iron structures in which the 
dry goods merchants, wool merchants, and leather merchants 



HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES. 227 

o. .;auy blocks, carried on trade. Not many public buildings 
were lost, but the warehouses covering the site of the birthplace 
of Franklin and the homes of Webster and Everett perished. 
The loss in buildings and merchandise was estimated at sev^entj'- 
five millions of dollars, and fifty millions of insurance capital 
were wiped out. The fire spread over an area of sixty acres. 

The Metis, a propeller, collided with a schooner on Long 
Island Sound on the 30th of August, and caused the loss of 
fifty lives. 

About seven hundred miners were killed during the preced 
iug three years, and .seventeen hundred maimed, in the an- 
thracite coal region in Pennsylvania. 
1873 Ulysses S. Grant and Henry Wilson took the oaths of office 
us President and Vice-President on the 4th of March. 

The Credit Mobilier scandal was ventilated by congressional 
inquiry early in the year. Jamei G. Blaine, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, had offered a resolution calling for such in- 
vestigation in December, 1872, upon tlie meeting of Congress. 
The facts brought out were as follows : No private contractors 
could be engaged to build the Union Pacific Railroad, which 
Congress chartered in 1882. A corporation was formed, there- 
fore, called the Credit Mobilier, of which the stockbolders were 
mostly stockholders of the railroad company. This new or- 
ganization agreed to build the road in consideration of certain 
land grants and government bonds issued originally to the rail- 
road company to assist in its construction. The capital stock 
(if the Credit Mobilier was $2,500,000, but by subsequent 
legislation this was increased 50 per cent, the addition being- 
taken l)y the holders of the original stock. The Credit Mobilier 
then went ahead and built the road. The profits derived from 
this contract were so great that in the winter of 1867-8 the 
stock was estimated to have a value of .fSSO or .$400 per share 
of $100. It was not placed on the general market, however. 
All sales were private, and the character of the scheme was not 
generally known. In June, 1868, a dividend of $60 a share 
was declared. TJiis was the largest dividend received by the 
holders. It appeared subsequentlv that during this same •\vinter 
Oakes Ames, a congressman from Massachusetts, had approach- 
ed various congressmen and senators -with quiet offers of Credit 
Mobilier stock at the low jirice of $100 a share. Some of them, 
including Schuyler Colfax, then Speaker of the House, and 
James Brooks, of New York, a government director of the 
Pacific Railroad, purchased a greater or less quantity, most of 
them, however, taking only a few shares. Several did not pay 
cash, but gave personal notes. They afterwards alleged that 
they saw no impropriety in the purchase, any more than in any 
other investment, and Ames, in "letting them in on the ground- 
floor," was apparently doing them only a personal favor! Upon 
inquiry, it appeared that the Pacific "Railroad and Credit Mo- 
bilier companies would not ask for any further legislation from 
Congress, and so most of the purchasers, if troubled with con- 
scientious scruples, concluded that they might honorably retain 



228 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

the stock. Some of them, however, growing suspicious, re- 
turned it to Mr. Ames and took up their notes. But, while the 
corporations did not intend to ask for positive legislation, thej^ 
were threatened by adverse legislation, against which they 
wished to sway as many members as possible. There was some 
popular dissatisfaction with the high rates of transportation 
charged by the Union Pacific, and in December, 1,867, Mr. 
Washburne, of Wisconsin, introduced a bill into Congress to 
])rovide for their reduction. This had been anticipated, and 
was known as " the Wash burne movement." An inkling of 
th('])rofits enjoyed by the Credit Mobilier having been obtain- 
ed in certain quarters, too, there was talk of depriving the 
Union Pacific of some of its land-grants. This project, how- 
ever, though anticipated by the managers of the Credit Mo- 
bilier, was not carried into effect. But the two schemes afford- 
ed sufficient motive for what, upon exposure, was looked upon 
as bribery by Mr. Ames. The.se facts having been reported 
by the investigating committee to Congress in February of this 
year, Mr. Ames was expelled from the House of Representrtives 
for his conduct, and Mr. Brooks for accepting bribes. It was 
also proposed to impeach Mr. Colfax, who at this time was Vice- 
President, but after careful consideration the judiciary com- 
mittee advised against it, since tbe offence of accepting the stock 
was not committed during the term of office he Avas now finish- 
ing. Mild censure was passed xipon some other congressmen. 
The scandal attracted wide attention all over the country, and 
was occasionally referred to, afterwards, in national politics. 

Modoc Indians, numbering about two hundred, attracted 
much attention by their stubborn resistance to Federal troops, 
which were sent to capture them on the southern boundary of 
Oregon, and to remove them to a reservation. Late in 1873, 
peaceful overtures were made to them which they haughtih' 
rejected. A fight with troops sent to give moral support to 
the negotiations followed. Thereupon the Modccs, led by 
Captain Jack and Scar-faced Charlie, witlidrew to some lava 
beds, just over the frontier in Northern California. Aside 
from this particular band, the other Indians of the Modoc 
tribe, together with numerous Klamath Indians in Northern 
California, were quietly removed to the reservation. The 
Klamaths were a peaceful class, and^ad been serving the 
whites as herdsmen, and in other similar capacities. But cer- 
tain agitators raised the cry that they were rivals of Avhite 
workmen ; and thus arose the crusade against them. These 
facts becoming known, during the winter and spring of this 
year, some opposition Avas made in the East to the war against 
the hostile Modocs. But an event occurred in April which 
robbed them of popular sympathy. A commission had been 
sent to treat with them again. A meeting under a flag of truce 
was arranged, and a conference was in progress, the 11th, 
when, without warning, a murderous assault was made upon 
the government's representatives by the savages. General 
Canby and Mr. Thomas were killed outright^ and General 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 229 

Meacham, the third commissioner, was seriously woautled. 
War against the treacherous redskins was now waged with great 
bitterness. The nature of the stronghold, which they had oc- 
cupied, was such that their capture was exceedingly difficult. 
The Federal soldiers were less familiar with the lava beds than 
the Indians were, and were repulsed with considerable slaughter 
almost every time they made an attack ; while the Indians 
suffered but little loss. But the affair had reached a stage 
where the government was obliged to go ahead, and the siege 
was pressed, at great expense, for several months. The Indians 
were finally captured, and the ringleaders put on trial for their 
murderous assault on the Federal commissioners. Seven of 
them were convicted and sentenced to be hanged. In the case 
of four this sentence was commuted. The others were hanged 
Oct. 3d. ^Vhat was left of the warrior band, a mere handful, 
was now removed to a reservation in Dakota. 

Profound sensation was created by the seizure of a sailing 
vessel known as the Virginius, carrying the American flag, by 
the Spanish war steamer Tornado, Oct. 31st, on the suspicion 
that the former was carrying munitions of war to the Cuban 
insurgents contrarj^ to international law. Many Americans 
were in favor of resenting the insult to the flag by declaring 
war ; and vigorous coiTcspondence over the affair was had be- 
tween the United States and Spanish governments. The Vir- 
ginius was finally surrendered to the United States, Dec. 16th. 
A demand was made that, in addition, the Spanish authorities 
should salute the flag, but Secretarj- Fish consented to waive 
this, if the Madrid government could establisli the fact that the 
Virginius was not entitled to carrj-the Stars and Stripes. This 
was done to his satisfaction, and the salute w as not required. 

The one-cent postal card was first used in this country this 
year. 

Congress abolished the franking privilege hitherto enjoyed 
by congressmen. Subsequently they were authorized to send 
public documents free, but not letters. 

A memorable financial panic, from the effects of which the 
country did not entirely recover for several years, occurred in 
the fall. A number of causes contributed to it. One of them 
was the heavy balance of trade against this country. In the 
flush of prosperity which had followed since the war, people 
had gotten into the way of buying articles of luxury imported 
from foreign countries ; and the quantity of merchandise 
brought into the United States, from other lands, so far exceeded 
our exports that sixty-three millions of dollars of gold coin had to 
be sent out of the country to square the account. During 1872 
the exijort of coin was sixtj^-eight millions of dollars. This heavj^ 
drainage made gold somewhat scarce, and caused a feeling of 
insecurity in business matters. A more fruitful cause of dis- 
aster was the immense quantity of bonds issued by towns, 
cities, states, and corporations, in support of railroad enter- 
prises. Instead of building with capital actually subscribed, 
localities along the routes were induced to assist by contribu- 



23U HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

tions in the form of bonds. It was an era of great activity in 
railroad construction. Not <july were vast enterprises, like the 
Isorthern Pacific, being pressed with much vigor, but countless 
lesser schemes were also under way. Scarcely a State in the 
Union, especially in the North, escaped the fever. In the more 
thickly settled East the proposed roads were mostly local ; in 
the less heavily populated West the lines were extensiv^e. In 
the live years ending with 1873 the enormous sum of one 
billion seven hundred millions of dollars was spent in building- 
railroads in the United States. Many mining companies, not 
all of them on a sound basis, were also borrowing money on 
bonds ; and manufacturing concerns did likewise. A large 
part of this indebtedness was incurred abroad, especially at 
fust. When the foreigners had taken all of these bonds that 
the}' could be induced to buy, the brokers began to place them 
at home. Sa\ings-banks, trustees of estates, private investors 
and speculators, upon attractive representations as to the value 
of the schemes thus engaged in borrowing, took the securities, 
imtil finally the country was overloaded. The export of gold 
made financiers uneasy. Greenbacks were hoarded. The 
stringency thus created caused increased nervousness. The 
United States Government was appealed to, to relieve the money 
market by buying its own bonds, and thus throwing morepapei- 
into circulation. It did so, to the extent of fourteen millions of 
dollars ; but the eagerness of investors to convert even Federal 
securities into ready money was so great that the sale had to 
be stopped. Before this point was reached the creditors of 
some of the banking houses that had most heavily invested in 
railroad bonds began to make demands which the banks could 
not meet ; and several failures ensued. This precipitated a 
])auic in September. A run was started on numerous savings- 
banks. The credit system in business was abruptly suspended. 
Debtors were hard pressed by creditors. Investorsbecamc anx- 
ious to realize on their securities, and there was a general desire 
to sell. Stocks, bonds, and commercial paper rapidly depre- 
ciated. Real estate, manufactures, and all kinds of property 
suffered similarly. The worst part of the panic was confined 
to ten days, beginning Sept. 20th, dimng which the New York 
Clearing House susjjended. The bankers at the metropolis 
then agreed to pool their greenbacks, to pay only checks certi- 
fied as good through the Clearing HouscT-and to issue ten mil- 
lions of dollars in loan certificates. The savings-banks took ad- 
vantage of the thirty-day notice privilege. And at length the 
excitement was stayed. Depreciation and stagnation followed. 
United States bonds sutTered less than other securitirs, falling 
off only 5 or 10 per cent. Railroad stocks declined anywhere 
from 10 to 30 per cent, and some even 40 per cent. Factories 
now found themselves bothered with a surplus of unsalable 
products. Some of them ciu'tailed their output by running on 
short time. Others suspended altogether. Thousands of work- 
ingmen w'ere thrown out of employment, or put on reduced 
wages. No class of society escaped suffering. The income of 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 231 

the rich was greatly diminished. They economized accordingly, 
especially on imported goods. Trade was dull, and the mer- 
chants could hardly make a living. The credit system was 
suspended. Failures occurred everywhere ; and a period of 
financial depression and industrial prostration followed, wliicli 
extended through the following year or two. From some of 
the shrinkage in values property never recovered. 

The woi'k of building the East River Bridge, connecting the 
cities of New York and Brooklyn, Avas commenced. 

The steamship xVtlantic, of the White Star line, on her pas- 
sage from Liverpool to New York, while putting into Halifax 
for a fresh supply of coal, ran into a rock, on the 1st of April, 
and in a few minutes became a total wreck. Of nine hundred 
and fifty seven persons on board, five hundred and thirty-five 
were drowned. 

The steamer Wawasset, of Washington, D. C, was burned 
off Aquia Creek, on the 8th of August, causing a loss of seventy- 
five lives. 

A confiagration occurred in Boston on the 30th of May, 
destroying property valued at thirteen hundred thousand dollars. 
One in Baltimore, on the 25th of July, destro.yed property 
valued at a little over one million of dollars. On the 2d of 
August, a fire in Portland, Oregon, destroyed twentj^-three 
blocks of buildings, valued, with other propertj'^ lost, atone and 
a half millions of dollars. 
1874 A prominent feature of national politics was the movement 
to secure, by legislation, the issue of a larger quantity of gov- 
ernment paper currency. The Treasury notes, or " greenbacks," 
had been designed, at first, only as a temporaiy expedient, and 
Avere an outgrowth of the necessities of the war period. Their 
constitutionality had been seriously questioned, though after- 
Avards affirmed by the Supreme Court. But now there was a 
demand that the go\'ernment issue i)aper as a permanent peace 
currency. The doctrine was enunciated A'igorously that intrinsic 
value Avas unnecessary in a currency. The gOA'crnment's flat 
made it money, though the material Avas worthless. This 
inflation movement, which was stimulated bA' the hard times, 
Avhich ran for Ave or six years in politics, and' Avhich led to the 
election of several Governors and Congressmen, A^'as smothered 
at the outset by the passage of a bill this j-ear considerably in- 
creasing the greenback circulation. This, in April, President 
Grant vetoed. Another law Avas then enacted so regulating 
Treasury administration as gradually to contract the currency, 
although it AA'as several months before this effect was discov- 
ered. 

Louisiana Avas the scene of a Aiolent struggle between rival 
claimants of the State government. The trouble began as far 
back as December, 1871, when tAvo different factions each tried 
to capture the legislature by unseating members of the oppo- 
.site party. In January following, Federal troops had been 
called upon to preserve peace. Again in December, 1872, an- 
other controvery arose as to the result of the election for gov- 



232 IIISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

ernor and legislators, the Returning Board having split, one 
part, declaring William P. Kellogg governor, and the other 
John McEnery. The United States District Court, however, 
« enjoined McEneiy from acting, on the ground that the return- 
ing board which had proclaimed him elected had done so 
in defiance of its order. Both claimants were inaugurated; 
and Federal troops were used to break up the McEnery admin- 
istration, Kellogg being recognized at Washington as' the law- 
ful governor. Late in the summer of 1874, McEnery again 
laid claim to the governorship. Party feeling now^ lan very 
high, on account of various fatal affrays between the blacks 
and whites in Louisiana and elsewhere. September 14th, in 
McEnery's absence, D. B. Penn, claiming to be lieutenant- 
governor, organized a militia force and sent it to the State- 
house to drive Kellogg out. It succeeded, a fight in the streets 
- having first occurred, in which the police and other militia 
offered resistance. Twenty-six persons were killed and about 
forty wounded in this conflict. Kellogg appealed to the Prei^i- 
dent for aid, under the provisions of the Constitution requiring 
the Federal authorities to guarantee to each State a republican 
form of government. General Emory, acting under orders 
from Washington, compelled McEnery, who had now re- 
turned, superseding Penn, to suiTcnder. The trouble broke 
out again in January, 1875, when, owing to a dispute about 
the election of several members, the legislature divided into 
two bodies, each claiming to be the legal legislature. Violence 
attended the split; and Federal troops were again employed to 
preserve peace and maintain Kellogg. A Congressional com- 
mittee, headed by George F. Hoar, thereupon visited New Or- 
leans, and, after Aveeks of negotiation, adjusted the contro- 
versy. The dual legislatures combined, a majority of the 
members being hostile to Kellogg, who was recognized as gov- 
ernor. 

For the first time since Lincoln was elected in 1860, the 
Lower House of Congress, by the elections of 1874, was given 
to the Democrats. Among the newly chosen members were 
many ex-Confederate generals, and Alexander H. Stephens, 
Vice-President of the late Confederacy. 

A magnificent steel railway bridge over the Mississippi River, 
near St. Louis, was opened to traffic. It w^as begun in 186T. 
and composed of three spans, two ofThem five hundred and 
twenty feet long, and one five hundred aud fifteen. The 
arches were sixty feet above the water. 

King Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands visited the United 
States, reaching Washington on the 12th of December. He 
was formally presented to the President on the loth, and wel- 
comed by Congress on the 18th. 

A great calamity visited the people of Northwestern Minne- 
sota early in the summer. The locusts devoured every kind of 
crop, and left the country perfectly bare. Many thousands of 
persons suffered for food. 

On the 8th of October, 1873, an election took place in the 



HISTORY OF THK L'XITKD STATES. 2?,-> 

several suburban municipalities of Boston, which resulted in a 
decision to merge them under one city government the lirst day 
of this year. Charlestown, Brighton, and West Roxbury voted, 
aye, and Brookline in the negative. The consolidated city of 
Boston contained at that time 292,486 inhabitants. The annexa- 
tion of West Farms, Morrisania, and King's Bridge to New 
York City was also effected, giving a population to the latter 
of 1,021,000. 

The Mill River Reservoir, covering a tract of one hundred 
acres at Williamsburg, Mass., gave way on the 16th of May, 
precipitating the vast mass of water it contained down a steep 
and narrow valley into the village of Williamsburg, and thence 
further down the valley through the villages of Haydenville, 
Leeds, and Florence into the Northampton meadows. Manu- 
facturing establishments and dwellings representing over a 
million dollars' worth of property were swept away, and about 
one hundred and fifty people were drowned. 

On the 14th of July a conflagration occurred in Chicago, de- 
stroying three hundred and forty-six ])uildings and other prop- 
erty, of the total value, as estimated, of four millions of dollars. 

A destructive deluge destroyed about one hundred lives and 
an immense amount of property at Pittsburg on the 26th of 
July. The steamboat Pat Rogers took fire on the Ohio River, 
below Aurora, on the 5th of August, and fifty lives were lost 
by the disaster. 
1875 The Civil Rights bill passed Congress. It provided that all 
citizens, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of 
servitude, should have equal privileges at inns, theatres, and 
schools, and on railroad, steamboat, and other transportation 
lines. This was to enforce the Fourteenth and Fifteenth 
Amendments to the Constitution, its projectors claimed. 
Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, was conspicuous in pressing 
the measure in Congress. It was extensively debated the pre- 
vious year, but left in the hands of a committee. The law was 
provoked by discriminations, chiefly in the late slave States, 
against the freedmen in travelling and at places of entertain 
ment. Bitter opposition to the measure was offered to the en- 
actment by Southern Congressmen, principallj'^ on the ground 
that it was an invasion of State rights not wan-anted by the 
Constitution. Some parts of the bill wei-e declared unconsti- 
tutional a few years afterward by the United States Supreme 
Court. 

The President, on the 14th of January, approved an act of 
Congress to provide for the resumption of specie payments. It 
required the coinage of silver coins to replace the fractional 
currency, provided for the formation of other national banks, 
and for every hundred dollars they issued, as a circulation, 
eighty dollars of greenbacks to be withdrawn, until the green- 
backs in circulation should not exceed three hundred millions 
of dollars; also that on and after January 1, 1879, the green- 
backs be redeemed in coin, and to prepare for so doing by sell- 
ing the bonds of the United States. 



234 HISTORY OF THK UNITED STATES. 

In March, Congress authorized Captain James B. Eads to 
open the South Pass of the Mississippi at an expense of five 
millions two hundred thousand dollars. 

The first cardinal in the United States was appointed — 
Archbishop John McCloskey of New York. 

The United States Direct Cable was completed June 10th. 
This ocean telegraph scheme was the first successful one or- 
ganized in opposition to the old Anglo-American line, though 
afterwards it entered into combination with it. It was pro- 
jected b}^ capitalists working in connection with land lines that 
were rivals of the Westenr Union, the Atlantic and Pacific, 
and the Franklin Telegraph companies; and it was to be op- 
erated in CO operation with those lines. The work of laying 
this began in the summer of 1874. A short section from Rye 
Beach to Torbay, Newfoundland, measuring about six hun- 
dred miles, was laid by the steamer Faraday; and then the 
long section from the Irish coast — Ballinskelligs Bay — to 
America was begun. Late in the season, when the Faraday 
was nearlj' through her work, she was overtaken by a series of 
severe storms, which compelled her to cut the cable and buoy 
the end in mid-ocean, and at length to abandon it. Badly 
leaking, she slowly made her way back to England. Grave 
fears for her safety were entertained, but she got through all 
right. In April of this year she left England to complete the 
work. The cable was picked up and s]:)liced to that portion on 
board. When the Faraday was within twenty miles of 
America she was obliged to abandon the work again, and come 
into Cape Breton for coal. After these and other delays the 
enterprise w'as finally consummated in June. Cable rates, 
which had once been ten dollars a word, had recently fallen to 
fifty cents a word ; and now another drop to twenty-five cents 
resulted. 

The first train passed through the Hoosac Tunnel, Massa- 
chusetts, on the 9th of February. The tunnel is four and 
three-quarter miles long, twenty-five feet high, and twenty- 
seven feet wide. 

The system of fast trains for the delivery of the mails went 
into operation on the 16th of September. 

This year there were sixteen clearing-houses in operation in 
as many cities, and three hundred and thirty-fovu" banks were 
associated in their support for the purpose of effecting their ex- 
changes. 

The Gulf of Mexico was visited by a violent cyclone from 
the 16th to the 19th of September. In Galveston, the water 
was driven across the island alternately from gulf to ])ay. 
Houses were removed, the railroad damaged, and numerous 
vessels driven ashore. In Indianola over one hundred lives 
Avere lost. The place was flooded eight feet deep, and houses, 
stores, wharves, and the light-house weie swept away. Nine- 
tenths of the houses in the jilace were destroyed. 

On the 28th of April, a square mile of the city of Oshkosh, 
Wis. , was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of property val- 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATE3. 23-3 

ued at two millions of dollars. The same amount of pioperty 
was destroyed by fire in the town cf Osceola, Pa. Two hun- 
dred and tifty houses were consumed. A tire broke out in the 
French Catholic church at Holyoke, Mass., on the 27th of 
May, during a celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi, and 
seventy -five lives were lost by the disaster. On the 26th of Oc- 
tober, a conflagration at Virginia Citj', Col., destroyed the en- 
tire business portion of the place, with a loss of four millons of 
dollars in property. 

On the 4th of November, the steamship Pacific, on her pas- 
sage between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, foundered, 
engulfing and destroying two hundred lives. Nearly seventy 
lives were lost by the burning of the steamship City of Waco, 
off Galveston bar, on the 9th of November. 
1876 Colorado was admitted as the thirty-eighth State to the 
Union . 

The centennial of American Independence was celebrated by 
an international exposition held at Fairmount Park, Philadel- 
phia, under the management of a commission made up of mem- 
bers from each State in the Union. Gen. Joseph R. Hawley was 
president. Congress appropriated $2,000,000, the citv of I'hila- 
delphia $1,500,000, and the State of Pennsylvania $1^000,000 to 
the project, which was also sustained by the issue of $10,000,- 
000 stock to subscribers. A tract of 236 acres was enclosed for 
the exhibition. The city of Philadelphia spent a great deal of 
money improving the avenues in the direction of the park, an(l 
the railroad companies extended their tracks to the fair-ground, 
to facilitate the delivery of exhibits. The five pnncipal exhi- 
bition buildings were erected at a cost of $4,500,000. The main 
edifice was 1880 feet (or more than a third of a mile) in length 
and 464 feet in width, giving an area of 872,320 square feet for 
the use of exhibition. This building was used for the display 
of manufactured articles, and was filled to its utmost capacity, 
suitable aisles being left for the proper access of spectators. 
An electric raihvay made a complete circuit of the building, 
outside, for the convenience of visitors. All the civilized na- 
tions of the globe had been invited to participate in this exhi- 
bition, and the response was general and hearty. Many years 
had elapsed since America had had any such fair, and the 
centennial associations led to this one being made more of a 
demonstration than might otherwise have been expected. The 
manufacturing resources of this country were revealed to a 
wonderful degree, the products of inventive genius, artistic 
taste, and mechanical skill being represented on a grand scale. 
Great Britain's contributions were largely textile fabrics, with 
some pottery. India and Canada also took part. France had 
a fine display of bronze, lace, porcelain, and other pottery, in- 
cluding the choicest Sevres china, Palissy vases, and faience. 
Her display of jewelry, also, was excellent. Holland sent ma- 
terials for drainage, model houses, school books and apparatus, 
and other specimens of industry and progress. Switzerland 
was principally represented b}' v.atches. Sweden surprised 



236 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

most visitors by a large variety of iron and its manufactures, 
otLer metals, porcelain, military exhibits, and peasant folk in 
native dress. Denmark's furs, terra-colta figures, and silver- 
ware attracted much attention. Russia's exhibits M^ere some- 
what iu the same line, but supplemented by art-drawings and 
casts. The display from Italy was not large, but was fine. 
Wood carving and mosaics were a prominent feature of it. 
Portugal sent like goods, and silver filigree work, porcelain, 
and terra-cotta figures. From Spain came tapestries, glass, and 
pottery; from Turkey rugs and other Oriental merchandise; 
and from Egypt much old Saracenic art, steel, gold, silk, and 
ivory. A particularly elegant and copious contribution was 
made by Japan, whose bronze, lacquer work, porcelain, and 
other decorative products, costly, beautiful, and grotesque, pro- 
voked unceasing admiration. China did not rival this exhibit, 
though well represented. Mexico, Brazil, and other Central 
and South American countries also participated, as did some 
of the minor African States. The next largest building was 
Machinery Hall, measuring 1403x360 feet. As the name indi- 
cates, this was the rendezvous for an immense variety of ma- 
chines, for which motive poM^er was furnished by a steam-en- 
gine of 1400 horse-power, manufactured by George H. Corliss, 
of Providence, R. I. This colossal motor subsequently went 
to the city of Pullman, near Chicago, to run the famous car- 
shops at that place. Great Britain occupied one-third of the 
.space in this building. In the United States building a display 
was made of apparatus and collections of the several de])art- 
ments of the National Government: army materials, naval 
equipment, coinage and currency, postal equipment, models of 
inventions, minerals, Indian costumes and weapons, school 
books and furniture, and so on. In Horticultural and Agii- 
cultural halls tine exhibits were made. A careful and exten- 
sive collection of the products of female industry was made at 
the Women's Pavilion. There was also an art-gallery, con- 
taining paintings from both Europe and America. No less 
than twenty-six States had separate buildings for .special dis- 
plays and headquarters; and there were thirty erected by pri- 
vate business concerns to advertise their wares. Some foreign 
countries had their own little edifices, the Turkish bazaar and 
cafe being a popular one. The exhibition opened on May 10th, 
and continued six months, Sundaj^s excepted. The attendance 
in this time was about ten millions. It came mostly from the 
north and east, and gave the railroads centring at Philadel- 
phia, and many contributing transportation lines, a heavy busi- 
ness all summer. Foreigners attended in large numbers, too, 
improving this occasion to \isit America. The stimulus given 
to all kinds of trade, by the advertisement gained at the exhibi- 
tion, was decided and quickly perceptible. 

Hallett's Reef, a dangerous obstruction to the navigation of 
Hell Gate, where East River emerges into Long Island Sound, 
was blown up by General Newton, United States engineer, 
after over seven years' excavation. As early as 1866 work of 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 2-37 

this kind had been proposed. An appropriation was secured 
in 1868 from Congress, and practical work begun next jear. 
Several smaller but very dangerous rocks — Ways Reef, Shell- 
drake, and Pot Rock — were lowered by drilling holes into them 
and firing high explosives therein. Hallett's Reef was operated 
ujjon differently. Its great extent, and the s'niftness of the 
current, led to the fixing of a coffer-dam upon the ledge, and 
the sinking of a shaft, from which ten horizontal radiating tun- 
nels were made in the stone at a level thirty-three feet under 
low-water mark. These tiuinels ranged from fifty one to one 
hundred and twenty-six feet in length, according to the shape 
of the reef. Into the rock, along the passages, three thousand 
six hundred and eighty holes were bored, and charged with 
dynamite and various blasting-powders. Of the former tweuty- 
efght thousand pounds were used; of the latter twenty -four 
thousand. This work being completed, the mine was filled 
with water, to tamp the explosives, and these were fired, all at 
once, by a single shock of electricity, on the 24th of September 
of this year. Dredging removed the crumbled rock in a few 
months. Operations at Hallett's Reef were immediately fol- 
lowed up by similar ones at Flood Rock, much the largest ob 
struction in the strait. Hallett's Reef projected northeast- 
wardly from Long Island. Flood Rock ro.se in the middle of 
the narrow channel. But a small portion of it rose above wa- 
ter: but the section at a level twenty-six feet below low tide was 
one thousand two hundred feet long, and from three hundred 
to six hundred and thirty -five feet wide. A shaft had been 
sunk, and excavation begun in 1875; and, before the final ex- 
plosion, October 10, 1885, all this portion had been under- 
mined, leaving only a shell, with four hundred and sixty -seven 
pillars holding it up. These were perforated with thirteen 
thousand two hundred and eighty-six holes, nine feet deep and 
three incites across. Dynamite and powder weighing two hun 
dred and eighty-five thousand pounds were employed in the 
final blast, the tremor from which was felt as far away as Bos- 
ton. In details, this work was done in the same manner as that 
at Hallett's Reef. 

The presidential election this year was followed by an ex- 
ceptional and alarming controversy. The Republicans had 
nominated for President Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio, who 
the previous year had defeated William Allen in a contest 
for gubernatorial honors, on a hard -money platform. For 
Vice-President, William A. Wheeler of New York, who 
had been instrumental in adjusting the Louisiana troubles 
peaceably, was chosen. A third term for General Grant had 
been proposed, but was not received favorably, as a departure 
from all precedent in America. James G. Biaine came very 
near being nominated, but failed. The Democrats nominated 
Samuel J. Tilden, then governor of New York, and Thomas 
A. Hendricks of Indiana. Their platform condemned the use 
of troops in the South, and favored a reduction of the tariff. 
The Greenback party named Peter Cooper of New York and 



238 HISTORY OF TIIK UNITED STATES. 

Samuel F. Gary of Oliio as its candidates. The other partie* 
favored hard money. The Greenback ticket polled over three 
hmidred thousand votes in the country, but carried no State. 
For several days after the election in November the result re- 
mained in great doubt. Four States were fiercely disputed. 
The returning board in Louisiana gave the Hayes ticket a 
majority of about four thousand, but secured that result by 
throwing out the vote from several parishes, on account of in- 
timidation of voters. The Democrats claimed that these re- 
turns should also be counted, which would give Tilden the 
State. In South Carolina the returns were canvassed by the 
legislature. Two bodies claiming to be such were organized. 
One found a plurality of about eight hundred for the Repub- 
lican ticket ; the other a smaller one for the Democratic ticket. 
Ill Florida a similar dispute aro.se, the majorities claimed by 
both sides being scarcely over one hundred . Finallj% in Oregon , 
which gave an unquestioned Republican majority, one candi- 
date for presidential elector on the winning ticket was said by 
his enemies to be ineligible on account of his having been post- 
master when nominated. Governor Grover therefore proposed 
to give certificates of election to his two Republican colleagues, 
but to a Democrat, Crouin, in his stead. This situation derived 
the greater importance from the facts that the Democrats had 
one hundred and eighty-four electoral votes in the countrj' un- 
questioned, while the utmost claims of the Republicans gave 
them only one hundred and eighty-five. The change of a 
single vote, therefore, would elect Tilden. When this situa- 
tion was discovered, partisan spirit reached a high pitch. The 
Tilden party shouted " fraud," and seemed to believe that their 
honestly won prize was being stolen; while the Hayes party 
claimed that their returning lioards had acted legally and 
honestly, and that the Oregon Democrats were practising 
wicked and dangerous games. The complication was increased 
byvthe fact that one partj^ controlled each house in Congi'ess ; 
and as the electoral vote must be counted at a joint session of 
the two, and double sets of returns would come from four 
States, a quarrel was sure to arise in Congress which threatened 
to end disastrously. Impetuous Democ rats talked of marching 
an army of volunteers to instal Tilden as President at all haz- 
ards. Revolution and civil war appeared imminent. Tlie 
electoral dispute was considered by Congress w^hen it met in 
December, and, after a few weeks, a bill was passed constitut 
ing a special tribunal to decide the mooted points when the 
court began in Febniary. This tribunal consisted of ."> 
Senators appointed by the Vice-President (3 Republicans and 'i 
Democrats), 5 Representatives appointed by the Speaker 3 
Democrats and 2 Republicans), and 5 Judges of the Supreme 
Court. The Electoral Commission decided that the Louisiana 
returning board had only exercised powers clearly accorded by 
the State law, and that Congress could not go behind the re- 
turns to inquire whether that board had performed its duty 
honestly or not. South Carolina and Florida were similarly 



HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES, 239 

disposed of; and all three States were counted for Hayes. The 
ineligibility of Watts in Oregon was not recognized, and the 
Avay in which his electoral vote was cast for Hayes was declared 
legal. The count, therefore, when completed, gave Hayes one 
hundred and eighty-five, and Tilden one hundred and eighty- 
four; but it was not finished until two days before the time for 
inauguration. Revised returns gave the three disputed South- 
ern States to the Democrats on the State tickets, and restored 
to that party a ' Solid South." 

An unprecedented number of railway mortgages were foi'c- 
closed this year A total amount of nine hundred millions of 
dollars of indebtedness was represented by the companies 
foreclosed, in stocks, bonds, and other evidences of debt. 

The United States troops in Montana, on the 25th of June, 
under General Custer, were overpowereel in a conflict with tlie 
Indians, and the commander and two hundreil and sixty-one 
troops were killed and fifty-one wounded. 

On the 8th of February, a fire on Broadway, in New York, 
destroyed property valued at three millions of dollars. 

On the evening of the 6th of December, the Brooklyn Thea- 
tre, in Brooklyn, N. Y., caught fire during the performance of 
a play. A panic ensued, and nearly three hundred persons 
lost their lives by suffocation or the flames. 

A passenger train on the Lake Shore road, on the 29th of 
December, fell through the iron bridge spanning the Ashtabula 
Creek, a distance of seventy-five feet, into the water below. 
The wrecked cars took fire and more than seventy persons 
perished by the disaster. 

Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler commencetl 
their terms of office, on the 4th of March, as President and 
Vice-President. 

The first telephone for business pm'poses was erected and 
leased to a regular patron the first week in April. This was 
from the house of Charles Williams in Somerville to his business 
office in Boston, three miles away. The instruments attached 
were invented by Alexander Graham Bell of Boston. This gentle- 
man had been studying the subject of conveying sound over an 
electric wire ever since 1867, when he received hints from the 
work of German investigators. Up to 1874 Mr. Bell experiment- 
ed to produce musical instruments that would respond to each 
other over a wire, being operated by the voice. In that j^ear 
he changed his plan, and substituted a membrane like that of the 
ear as the vibrating receiver and transmitter. Continuing his 
studies, tests, and invention, he had so far perfected his instru- 
ment in 1876 as to exhibit two of them at the Centennial Exhibi- 
tion. Before the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 
which met in Boston that year, he read a paper regarding his 
invention May 10th. In August he tried it at bis own home, 
talking audibly over ten miles of wire. The matter was dis- 
cussed before the British Association for the Advancement of 
Science, at Glasgow, in the autumn. During the winter and 
spring of this year he made further partially public tests. In 



240 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

one of these, two Japanese used the instrument, conversing in- 
telligibly in their own language. Another attended a lecture 
which he gave in Salem, February 12th. A telephone was set 
up in the hall, connecting with another in Boston, eighteen 
miles away. Talk between the two cities was carried on that 
evening; and the singing in Boston of "Hold the Fort" and 
other songs was made audible to the Salem audience. A 
newspaper despatch, the first ever thus transmitted, was sent 
that evening from Salem to a Boston newspaper, recounting 
the event. In April, as already stated, the first business tele- 
phone was put in operation. " Next month, the Cambridge 
Water Board ordered one. Then the Pennsylvania Railroad 
called for another, to be put in at Altoona. Professor Bell 
lectured in New York in May, first to a limited number of 
telegraphic experts, and then to a general audience. And his 
business now^ gradually but very slowly extended. Thomas 
A. Edison now began to experiment with telephones, and invent- 
ed one slightly different from the Bell instrument. His patent 
was bought up, and a number of his instruments put into use 
in New York Citj^ by a corporation closely related to the West- 
ern Union. Elisha Gray of Chicago began studying the subject 
about the same time as Bell; and he filed a caveat at Washing- 
ton just three hours after the latter applied for a patent. Gray 
sold his claims to the Western Union ; but none of his instru- 
ments were ever made for general business. The Western 
Union rapidly developed the use of telephones, and, it is said, 
was the first to organize exchanges with which subscribers were 
all connected. Bell, having organized a company to take hold 
of his invention in Boston, brought a suit against the New York 
concern for infringement of his patent. After considerable ligita- 
tion, beginning in 1878, he achieved a victory. A con.solida- 
tion of interests then followed; and the business of the Ameri- 
can Bell Telephone Company then rapidly developed. The busi- 
ness in New York City was sublet to the newly organized 
Metropolitan Telephone Company in 1880, and in the fall of 
that year two hundred and seventy-five towns in the countrj- 
had telephone exchanges. Daniel Drawbaugh, living near 
Harrisburg, Pa., obtained a patent for a telephone in July, 
1880; and a company to utilize it was formed. But it was sub- 
sequently compelled by the courts to^ surrender to its rival. 
Other companies with still other devices, Mere formed still later 
in the south, and were likewise sued. The cases arc still pend 
ing. By the close of 1884 the number of telephones in use in 
this country was three hundred thousand or more, mostlj' owned 
and controlled by the American Bell Telephone Company. 
Various improvements were made in Bell's instrument after 
1877, the most important being the Blake transmitter. But 
the essential principle of his invention is still used in all the 
electric telephones in the world. 

The most serious and extensive labor strikes in the history of 
the country occurred this summer. A reduction of ten per 
cent in the wages of employees on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 241 

road was followed July 14th by a strike on the several branches 
of this road. A few days later the workmen of the Pennsyl 
vania, Erie, and New York Central, and their Western connec 
tions, including the Missouri Pacitic and a few other shorter 
lines west of the Mississippi, also struck, either because of some 
less recent reduction of pay or other grievance. The opera 
lives were aware that the railway managers were hostile to 
trades unions, which may have aggravated the trouble. The 
rich and influential Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, 
numbering fifty thousand members in the United States, and 
holding several millions of dollars in its treasuries, took the initia- 
tive in this strike; but the firemen, brakemen, and other railroad 
hands, and miners and iron-workers employed by the railrcail 
companies, also participated. The refusal of the men to work, 
or to allow others to work in their places, stopped all operations 
on the roads. Freight rapidly accumulated, and there was a 
general blockade. Shipping agents were obliged to decline 
freight that was offered for transportation. The employers 
called upon the various State authorities for militia to protect 
new employees in moving trains ; but in most cases the inex- 
perience or faintheartedness of the militia made it necessary to 
call for United States troops. A detachment of two hundred 
or three hundred of these went to Martinsburg, W. Va., on 
the 19th to assist the local authorities in opening traffic. The 
President in the mean time ordered those persons combining io 
interfere with lawful business to disperse. In Baltimore the 
strikers resisted an effort to clear them from the streets, and a 
riot ensued July 30th, in which nine were killed and more 
than twenty wounded. The situation was even worse in Pitts- 
burg, where the strikers offered violent resistance to an effort 
to start a train under military protection. As the soldiers ap- 
peared in the streets on the 21st, a vast mob waylaid them and 
began flinging stones and other missiles at them. Several 
volleys of musketry were now fired into the crowd with fatal 
effect, but only to increase the rage and opposition of the 
throng. The military were obliged to take refuge in a round- 
house of the railroad company; there they were besieged. Oil 
cars were lighted and rolled up against the building. When 
the firemen arrived they were not allowed to extinguish the 
flame. Indeed, the incendiary torch was now applied to 
machine-shops and other buildings ; and two thousand freight 
cars were either pillaged or burned. The wildest excesses were 
indulged in by the frenzied rioters. Barrels of liquor were 
stolen from the cars, and broached for the crowd; clothing, 
furniture, and all sorts of goods were stolen from the blockaded 
shipments, and taken to thousands of houses in town. Women 
shared in this general thievery. This work was largely con- 
ducted and incited by a lawless, communistic element entirely 
distinct from the genuine labor classes. The losses involved in 
this affair were estimated at nearly or quite ten millions of dollars. 
Order was finally restored by the assistance of Federal troops. 
In Buffalo, Columbus, Ohio, and elsewhere, there were other 



242 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

disturbances ; in Reading, Pa., thirteen were killed, and 
forty -three wounded by a collision between the military and a 
mob. Another riot in Chicago, July 26th, resulted in the kill- 
ing of nineteen persons. Here the police were assisted by United 
States cavalry in charging the crowd. Inflammatory harangues 
were being made all this time at labor and socialist meetings in 
various parts of the country. In Tompkins Square, New 
York, on the 25th, John Swinton and other prominent com 
munists addressed a vast assemblage. At the height of the 
strike, six thousand or seven thousand miles of railroad in the 
country between New England and the Missouri Eiver were 
kept from being operated ; and over one hundred thousand 
laborers took part in the movement. The utmost alarm pre- 
vailed over the whole country, and no one knew to what ex- 
lent the outbreak might yet go. The worst of it was over, 
however, before the close of the month. A reaction set in about 
the 27th, when many of the laborers returned to work ; and by 
the 30lh nearly all of the roads, especially east of Buffalo, 
were in operation again. Considerable political excitement 
grew out of these events ; and various agitators trietl to make 
capital and votes out of the feeling thus aroused. 

The prominent features of Hayes's administration this year 
Avere the withdrawal of Federal troops from the South, and an 
order forbidding office-holders to participate in the organiza- 
tion and conduct of party work. 

A fire broke out in Broadway, in New York, on the 6th of 
March, and destroyed property valued at over one and a half 
millions of dollars. On the 24th of November the United 
States sloop of war Huron struck the rocks near Oregon Inlet, 
North Carolina, by which disaster nearly one hundred lives 
were lost. 
1878 Congress passed a bill requiring the coinage of two mil- 
lions of dollars in silver dollars, of 412i grains each, monthly. 
This was the culmination of a movement that had been in 
progress for three or four years. When the inflationists found 
themselves unable to get a law for unlimited paper money they 
began to agitate for silver mone3\ The silver dollars had been 
out of circulation during the war ; and in 1873 a law was passed 
making gold the exclusive curi'ency standard. Owing, how- 
ever, to the depreciation of silver, the-amount of the metal 
which fonnerly went into a dollar was now worth only about 
ninety cents in gold. Remonetization of silver was therefore 
opposed by the old hard-money class as a blow at the public 
credit, and Pi-esident Hayes vetoed the silver bill when it was 
first enacted; but Congress passed it over the veto promptly. 

Two important sections of the elevated i-ailway in New York 
were opened for travel this year. An elevated railroad was 
originally projected as early as 1868, as an experiment, in 
Greenwich Street and Ninth Avenue, charging no fares. By 
February, 1869, it was extended to Thirty -first Street. It was a 
single track road, supported on a single row of iron pillars, and 
was jocularly called the " one-legged " railroad. It was at first 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 21o 

operated by a cable moved by stationary engines; but in 1871 
dummy locomotive engines woi'e substituted. There were 
severaf slight extensions to this first line in the next j'car or so. 
The line was sold out under a foreclosure in 1871. In 1872 two 
new companies were formed, the New York Elevated and the 
Metropolitan Elevated. These subsequently leased all their 
lines to the Manhattan Railway Company, which now operates 
them. Neither of them did much until 1876, when construction 
began in earnest. The Sixth Avenue line, from Morris Street 
to Fifty-ninth Street, was opened June 5th, this year, and on 
August 26th the Third Avenue line, from South Ferry to Forty 
second Street, with a branch to Fourth Avenue at the latter 
point, was also opened. By the close of the year the Third 
Avenue line was in operation to One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Street, in Harlem, eight and one-half miles fn^m South 
Ferrj-. The Sixth Avenue line was extended the following- 
year, through Fifty third Sti-eet to Ninth Avenue, and through 
that thoroughfare and Eighth Avenue to One Hundred and 
Fifty-fiith Street. The southern extension, from Morris 
Street across Battery Park to South Ferry, was completed No- 
vember 1, 1881. The original single track road had extended 
up Ninth Avenue to Fifty ninth Street in 1876. It was entirely 
rel)uilt by its new owners, and opened May 2, 1880. Mean- 
time various short branches were constructed at several points. 
The fourth of the great parallel lines, that through Second 
Avenue, starting from Chatham Square, was opened to Si.xty- 
seventh Street March 1, 1880, and to One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Street the following August. These roads are 
built on iron pillars about eighteen feet high, .set thirteen feet 
apart lengthwise of the road. On some lines the cross-ties of 
each track are supported by a separate row of posts, the two 
being tied together part of the way by cross-braces. On other 
lines the two rows of pillars, forty feet apart, support regular 
girders on which the up-track and down-track rest, near each 
other, and considerablj' between the pillars. Each of these 
upright supports is bolted to huge stone and iron foundations 
set in a mass of cement six feet square. Trains of four cars are 
run, at a speed of about twelve miles an hour, by lifteen-ton 
engines. At the busy hours of the day, trains run a minute 
and a half apart. The stations occur at intervals of one-quai'ter 
mile in the lower part of the city, and about one half mile 
further up town. By 1884 there were two hundred and lifty 
engines and eight hundred cars running; one hundred and 
seventy-live stations in use; three thousand five hundred or four 
thousand employes required; the same number of trains run, 
daily; a mileage, counting the up and down tracks separately, cf 
sixty-four miles; and over three hundred thousand passengers 
were carried daily, or about one hundred and three millions a 
year. During three hours, in the early morning, and three, in 
the late afternoon, the fare is five cents, at other times ten 
cents. In October, 1884, the rate on Sunday at all hours was 
reduced to five cents. The Brooklyn Elevated Eoad, the first 



244 HISTORY OF THE U:NITED STATES. 

one in Brooklyn, the first five-mile section of which was put in 
operation May 13, 1885, is constructed on much the same 
plan as the New York lines. The fai"e is uniformly five cents. 

Gold and paper money were of equal value, for the first time 
in seventeen years, on the 18th of December, of this year. 

Electric lighting became a success in America this year. 
The first hint of the invention came from Europe. But, as 
long ago as 1845, Mr. King, an American inventor, patented 
both in the United States and England, an incandescent electric 
light. Into the iron wire which conducted the current of 
electricity was inserted a piece of carbon or platinum wire, and 
the latter enclosed in a glass globe, hermetically sealed, from 
which the air had previously been exhausted. The principle 
of this lamp was exactly the same as that of the one brought to 
perfection in 1878. The experiments of Mr. King and the 
other inventors of his time failed, commercially, because it was 
impossible then either to produce a perfect vacuum or to gene- 
rate electricity at a low cost. In 1856 Dr. Geissler invented 
the first mercurial air-pump, and about ten years later Spren 
gle perfected the pump on the "dropping system," thus making 
it possible to secure a practically perfect vacuum. Gramme 
and Siemens, in Europe, soon after perfected their inventions 
for generating electricity on a large scale mechanically, by re- 
volving a piece of soft iron rapidly in front of the poles of a 
horseshoe magnet. The subject of electric lighting revived at 
once, for the pathway tc success had been cleared of its worst 
obstacles. In Europe, eJectric lighting was confined to passing 
a current of electricity from a large stick of carbon to another 
stick, the ends of the two being brought very close together, 
and both being in the open air. The current of sparks, or 
" arc," as it was called, gave forth a brilliant and dazzling light. 
In 1875 the attention of American inventors was dra\\'n anew 
to the whole general subject. In that year Charles G. Brush, 
of Cleveland, O., an analytical chemist, proposed to George 
W. Stockley, Vice-President of the Telegraph Supply Company 
of that city, to invent a machine and an arc light lamp which 
would be commercially successful. He was encouraged to try, 
and in two months he produced both the machine (or dynamo) 
and the lamp. Both were a success from the start. The Tele- 
graph Supply Company entered at once on the manufacture of 
the material required to introduce the arc-light into actual use. 
By 1878 about twenty factories and machine shops in diiJerent 
parts of the United States were using the Brush light for night 
work. The lamps had been employed to illuminate Niagara 
Falls at night for the enjoyment of visitors. And a beginning 
had been made in various inland cities and at Coney Island, 
»New York harbor, in lighting the public streets and prome- 
nades at night. While Mr. Brush was experimenting, J. Bil- 
lings Fuller was engaged in New York City in perfecting a dy- 
namo of different construction from that of any other inventor, 
and trying to produce both an arc and an incandescent lamp on 
a new principle. Brush and all other inventors passed the 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 245 

direct current of electricity through the lamps. Fuller's idea 
was to pass the tlirect current through the centre of an inde- 
pendent coil of wire, in which latter coil an induced current 
should be excited, the induced current in each case to light the 
lamp. Fuller died from over-work in FebiTiary, 1879, just as 
he was on the point of attaining success. A number of other 
men also invented special types of dynamos and of arc-lights in 
this period of three years following 1875. The problem of 
household lighting by electricity attracted the almost simulta- 
neous attention of another set of inventors. The arc-light was 
too dazzling for a small room. How to subdivide the electric 
current so as to maintain a large number of small lights on one 
circuit was the problem. All of the experimenters recurred at 
once to the idea of incandescence in a vacuum. Moses G. 
Farmer, of the United States Torpedo Station at Newport, R. 
I., was apparently the first in the ticid. As early as 1875 he 
was making incandescent lights with platinum, and with plati- 
num and iridium wire. In that year he conducted the current 
from the machine through forty-two different branch wires, 
and introduced a lamp into each branch. AVilliam E. Sawyer 
of New York City, an electrician, took up the subject next. In 
August and November, 1877, and June, 1878, he patented an 
incandescent carbon lamp, and exhibited it in operation in a 
small shop to a number of capitalists. In his first experiments, 
he used a glass tube about nine inches long, and instead of ex- 
hausting the air and producing a vacuum he excluded the 
oxygen by filling the tube with pure nitrogen and then sealing 
it hermetically. The carbon was a slender pencil of the same 
material used in the carbons of the arc-lights. A switch was 
employed to turn the light on and off, and a regulator to pre- 
vent an excess of current. A large c >mpany was formed to 
introduce the light by Mr. Sawyer and Albon Man of Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. The use of nitrogen was afterwards a1)andoned, 
and instead of a pencil of carbon, a filament of the material 
was used, and the long tube was changed for a small glass 
globe. T. A. Edison, of Menlo Park, N. J., began his experi- 
ments almost simultaneously with Mr. Sawyer. His first 
efforts were with incandescent platinum. No regulator could 
he perfected of sufficient delicacy to prevent fusing of the metal 
from excess of current, and the platinum wire did not present 
sufficient resistance to insure the commercial value of the lamp. 
Edison then began the production of filaments of carbon l)y 
charring fine strips of paper, pieces of thread, and finally 
vegetable fibres. In 1878 he had gone far enough iu his whole 
scheme to be entirely confident of final success, and he made, 
in October his famous announcement that he had discovered 
how to subdivide the electric current and the light indefinitely, 
and had invented a practical system for household illumina- 
tion. The manner of the announcement, telegraphed as it was, 
unexpectedly, to eveiy part of the world, alarmed the stock- 
holders in gas companies, and produced a remarkable fall in 
the value of gas stocks. In New York Citj^ and Brooklyn, 



246 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

where there were thirteen companies, the fall in several cases 
ranged from 12 to 20 per cent. Edison had discovered that the 
Sprengel mercurial air-pump, perfected by Dr. Crookes, could 
produce a practically perfect vacuum, in wliich a good carbon, 
made from vegetable fibre, would last from six hundred to one 
thousand hours, in some cases longer. He had also proved the 
correctness of the theory, previously advanced in England, 
that if a main concUictor be divided into any number of 
branches, and if each of the branches be divided into branches 
again, each of the minor wires would convey an amount of the 
current exactly proportional to its relative resistance. A com 
pany with large capital had been formed to enable Edison to 
carry on his experiments. After 1878, Edison pushed his in- 
vestigations with great vigor, and the details of his system were 
elaborated one after the other. On the night following the 
presidential election in November, 1880, nearly three hundred 
incandescent lamps were lighted on one circuit at Menlo Park, 
some of them in Edison's shop and house, and the others in the 
fields and roads surrounding the buildings. The next year 
steps were taken for creating the plant for the practical intro- 
duction of the system in New York City. There are now, in 
1885, in practical use in New York City, the Edison and Saw- 
yer-Man systems of incandescent lighting, and the Brush and 
United States (Maxim) sj-stems of arc lighting of the streets, 
wharves, and large work-rooms. Several other lights, but all 
on the same principles as those above, are seeking for recogni 
tion, but thus far without success. 

The steamer Metropolis, bound from Philadelphia to Brazil 
with workmen and material for a railroad, was driven ashore 
on the coast of North Carolina, on the 31st of January, in a 
violent gale, and totally wrecked ; nearly one hundred lives 
were lost. On the 2(1 of May, an explosion occurred in the 
Washbvu'ne Flour Millsat Minneapolis, which building caught 
tire, and that and other large mills were burned, by which 
property w^as destroyed valued at one and a half millions of 
dollars and seventeen lives were lost. On the 8th of October an 
excursion train on the Old Colony Railroad, returning to Boston 
from a boat race, was wi'ecked by a misplaced switch in the 
town of Quincy. By this disaster twenty-one persons were 
killed outright and over one hundred ancTfiftj' more injured. 
1879 The resumption of specie payments b}' the United States 
Government was effected January 1st, in accordance with the 
law of 1875. Secretary Shermanhad, by the sale of bonds, ac- 
cumulated in the Treasury $138,000,000 of coin (mostly gold), 
which was 40 per cent of the outstanding legal-tender notes. 
This fact .so strengthened public credit, that onlj- $11,000,000 
of greenbacks were offered for redemption January 1st. There- 
after, confident that the^^ could get gold if they wanted it, and 
rather preferring paper money as a matter of convenience, tlie 
people quite generally ignored the privilege of exchanging the 
latter for the former. During the previous four years, the 
premium on gold had fallen pretty steadily down to nothing 
at all in the fortnight preceding resumption. How to bring 



TllSTORY OF THE UNITKO STATKS. 247 

about resumption was a problem tliat atttracted much attention 
for ten years. It was effected more easily than had been an- 
ticipated. 

The army appropriation bill this year contained a clause pro- 
viding that no Federal troops should be employed to do police 
duty in the South. President Hayes, considering this an inva- 
sion of the executive prerogative, vetoed the bill. A special 
.'session of Congress was called to enact a new army bill, but the 
.same clause was retained. 

Congress passed the Arrears of Pensions bill, pro\iding for 
the admission of a large number of claims formerly ruled out. 
The estimates of the amount it would draw from the Treasurv 
were at first between $70,000,000 and |150,000,000; but later 
estimates put it at $300,000,000 or more. 

A disastrous tire occurred on the 2d of March, in the town of 
Reno, Nevada, consuming one million dollars' worth of prop- 
erty. On the 2d of December, the steamship Borussia, of the 
Dominion and Mississippi line, sunk at sea, losing two hundred 
lives. 

On the 30tli of May, a tornado in parts of Missouri, Kansas, 
and Nebraska, destroyed buildings, swept the fields of their 
crops, and scooped the water froni rivers and wells, involving a 
large destruction of property, and the lives of more than fortj' 
persons, besides injuring eighty more. 
1880 At the presidential election this year James A. Garfield of 
Ohio was elected President. He had been nominated by the 
Republicans, with Chester A. Arthur of New York for Vice- 
Pi'esident. At the convention of this party, a persistent and de- 
termined effort was made to nominate Grant again; and during 
thirty-six ballots he received the faithful support of about three 
hundred and six delegates each time. James G. Blaine was his 
principal rival, with John Sherman of Ohio, Secretary of the 
Treasury, next in favor. A deadlock having been reached, 
Blaine and Sherman combined to nominate Garfield. The 
Democrats nominated General Win field Scott Hancock, a ])rom- 
inent Union corps commander during the war, for President, 
and William H. English of Indiana for Vice-President. Samuel 
J. Tilden declined in advance to run. The Greenback party 
nominated Congressman Weaver of Iowa for President, and 
polled 307,000 votes, but carried no State. In this election the 
the tariff and negro-suffrage issues were the chief ones. Toward 
the close of the campaign, a forged letter, purporting to have been 
written by Garfield, and favoring the introduction of Chinese 
cheap labor, was printed extensively by the Democrats. Gar- 
field denied its genuineness, but it hurt him somewhat Avith the 
workingmen. Some attempt was also made to connect him 
with the Credit Mobilier scandal. The country divided l\y sec- 
tions in this election, the North voting for Garfield, and the 
South for Hancock. The electoral vote stood two hundred and 
fourteen to one hundred and fifty -five, in favor of the fonner 

The intrenational postal rate of five cents for foreign letters 
was adopted this year. 

On the 18th of April, a tornado swept over parts of the West- 



248 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

era and Southern States. The town of Maishtield, Mo., was 
totally destroyed, and one hundred persons were killed and one 
hundred and tifteen injured. The town of El Paso, Ark., was 
also destroyed. On the 25th of the same month, a tornado at 
Macon, Miss., blew down twenty -two houses, killing seventeen 
persons, and injuring twenty-two others. 

The town of Mil ford. Pa., was destroyed by fire on the 14th 
of May, and three thousand persons were rendered homeless. 

On the 23d of June, the steamboat Seawanhaka, running be- 
tween New York and Glen Cove, L. I., burned in the East 
River, near Randall's Island, by which catastrophe about fifty 
lives were lost. 

About the middle of October, the steamer Alpena of the 
Goodrich Line, on her way from Grand Haven to Chicago, was 
lost with all on board, the persons numbering, it was com- 
puted, seventy or eighty. 
1881 James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur commenced their 
terms of office, as President and Vice-President, on the 4th of 
March. 

President Garfield was assassinated July 2d, by Charles J. 
Guiteau, who shot him in the back, at the railway-station in 
Washington, just as he was leaving town for Elberon, to see his 
invalid wife. He had intended to go thence to Williams Col- 
lege. James G. Blaine, Secretary of State, and other friends 
were with the President at the time. The wound did not prove 
immediately fatal, and part of the time during the next few 
weeks there was a prospect of the Piesident's recovery. He 
was removed to the White House, and Mrs. Garfield was sum- 
moned from Elberon. The popular excitement over the da!^- 
tardly act was much increased by the political situation. Ros- 
coe Conkling, Senator from New York, felt that he had been 
deceived and wronged by Garfield a few weeks before, in the 
appointment of a friend of Secretary Blaiue, Judge Robertson, 
to the New York Custom- House. Conkling and his colleague, 
Piatt, had resigned their seats in the Senate, and were now can- 
didates for reelection, hoping to secure in this w-ay a verdict 
from their own State condemning the President's act. But 
they met with decided opposition at home, and a bitter and pro- 
tracted contest was in progress, and Vice-President Arthur was 
at Albany using his influence for Conkling, when the assassina- 
tion occurred. One of Guiteau's utterances, when he shot 
Garfield, was, ' ' I want to see Arthur become President. " IVIany 
people in the countrj^ could not for a time avoid the suspicion 
that Garfield had been a victim of Conkliug's hatred, and that 
Arthur, if he became President, would work a revolution in the 
patronage and policy of the Government, in Conkling's interest. 
Eventually these fears proved groundless, and the feeling tow- 
ard the ex-senator abated. For two montlis and a half the coun- 
try was kept in profound suspense by Garfield's condition. Sym- 
pathy was imiversally expressed, many messa.t!:es coming from 
foreign potentates and .satesmen. 3Iiilions of prayers for the 
dying man's recovery were offered; and he wasidolized as never 
before. Tlic malarial atmosi~)hcre al)out the White Hou-^e prov- 



HISTORY OF THE U>;iT£D STATES. 249 

ing hurlful to the patient, he was removed with great care, 
September 6th, to Francklyn Cottage, Elberon, where after 
showing slight improvement, he died September 19th. The 
demonstrations of grief throughout the land were unparalleled 
since Lincoln's death, but more general than at that time, as 
the South felt kindly toward Garfield. Many cities draped 
their buildings in mourning; New York was fairlj' swathed in 
black. The body was taken to Washington, exposed to ^^ew 
in the Capitol, and finally removed for burial to Cleveland, 
with an imposing military and civil escort. One of the expres- 
sions of sympathy which Mrs. Garfield received was a fund of 
$364,000 raised by admirers of her husband; and Congress voted 
her his salary for the rest of his term. Vice-President Arthur 
took the oath of office as President immediately after Garfield's 
death. Guiteau, the assassin, was a persistent office-seeker, of 
erratic ways and eccentric ideas. He had been trying for 
many weeks to get a foreign appointment from the President, 
and appears to have been exasperated by disappointment. He 
confessed to having dogged Garfield's footsteps several days be- 
fore finally shooting him . He was promptly arrested, and barely 
escaped being lynched on the way to jail. Indeed, September 
13th, while confined there awaiting the result of his deed, he 
was fired at by one of his guards. Sergeant John Mason, 
though the shot missed its intended victim. Mason, for this 
breach of discipline was condemned to imprisonment for a 
year. Guiteau was arraigned in Washington in November, 
and the trial lasted about ten weeks. His defence was insanity, 
and a number of experts testified in the case, taking opposite 
views as to his mental condition. The other testimony showed 
that there was a taint of insanity in the family. His career had 
included, among other things, a year or two of life in a free- 
love community at Oneida, N. Y. In his own behalf, Guiteau 
testified that he had been inspired by God to "remove Garfield," 
in the interests of peace in the country. His manner during 
the trial was flippant, impertinent, and irritable, and the dignity 
of the proceedings was much impaired by his freaks. The 
jury convicted him January 25th, 1883; and he was hanged 
June 30th. Eventually, Mason was pardoned out of prison. 
Most of Garfield's cabinet officers resigned, one at a time, a few 
weeks after Mr. Arthur became President; and the latter 
selected advisers that were more closelj' in sympathy with him. 

The town of New Ulm, in Minnesota, was struck by a cy 
clone on the 16th of July, and more than one hundred houses 
were demolished, and thirty persons killed or injured. 

Early in September, forest fires began in Eastern Michigan, 
spreading over large portions of Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola 
counties. Three hundred persons were burned to death, and a 
vast amount of property was destroyed. 
1883 The Star Route trials this year formed one of the most noted 
political and criminal events in the history of the counti-}-. 
Early in January, just as a large number of bids were to be 
opened for postal service on what were known as Star routes, 
the report of special inspectors was published, stating that ex- 



250 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

tensive frauds bad been discovered in that service, and advising 
precautions against anything further of the kind. The revela- 
tions made at this time were that a large number of bonds 
given by mail contractors for the faithful performance of duty 
Were found to be fraudulent and worthless. No less than two 
hundred and ninety -six contracts were thus dishonestly obtained, 
and the bonds given by the contractors exceeded eight millions of 
dollars. Several of these contractors were arrested for perjury. 
A few weeks later Stephen W. Dorsey, John W. Dorsey, and 
Thomas J. Brady were indicted on more serious charges. It 
was alleged that they were the chief conspirators in a scheme 
to defraud the government and enrich themselves in connec- 
tion with the Star Route service. Brady had been second as- 
sistant postmaster-general, in which capacity he had the 
privilege of "expediting" service, or making it more frequent, 
and compensating it more largely, over Star routes ; and it was 
charged that he abused this chance to favor the Dorseys and 
their associates, and had shared with them the ill-gotten plunder. 
In twelve contracts specified in the indictments, the pay had l)een 
raised from thirty thousand five hundred and fifty -two dollars 
to three hundred and five thousand one hundred and thirty- 
eight dollars. The necessity for any such increase was denied 
by the prosecution ; and instances were cited to show that much 
of the actiial work was sublet to other contractors for a small 
fraction of the compensation received by the "ring." It was 
alleged by counsel, afterwards, thai the government had been 
swindled out of five millions of dollars by this class of operations. 
The eminence of the accused persons gave the matter special 
importance. Stephen W. Dorsey had been a conspicuous poli- 
tician, and in the presidential campaign of 1880 was one of 
the most efllcient members of the Republican National Com- 
mittee. The cases finally came to trial, and a protracted strug- 
gle ensued. Colonel Robert L. Ingersoll, a personal friend of 
Dorsey, and an eminent law3'er, was among the counsel for the 
defence ; and Attorney-General Brewster employed George 
Bliss and other high legal talent to assist the government. The 
jury, Sept. 11th, returned a verdict convicting some of the 
minor accomplices of the alleged plot, but disagreed concerning 
the principals, although nine or ten of the- twelve jurors voted 
for conviction. At this juncture. Foreman Dickson stated that 
he had received overtures from the government looking 
to a bargain for conviction, in consideration of twenty-five 
thousand dollars. Subsequent inquiry showed that Mr. Brew- 
ster had never authorized any such negotiation. A new trial, 
however, was had, beginning in December, and lasting six 
months. The indictment against Rerdell, Dorsey 's clerk, was 
set aside at this trial, and lie turned State's evidence, making 
some statements concerning the business methods of the ac- 
cused persons which, at the time, were considered damaging. 
After a six months' contest in the courts, however, the jury 
acquitted Brady and the Dorseys ; and the whole prosecution, 
which had lasted eighteen months, and had wearied the coun- 
trv, went for naught. 



HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 251 

A law was passed excluding newly immignitiug Chinese 
laborers from the country, and requiring those already here to 
take out certificates, if they left the United States, in order to 
prove their identity before being readmitted. A strong law of 
this kind was enacted in 1879, but was vetoed by President 
Hayes. At that time a strong anti-Chinese agitation had been 
going on in the Pacific coast states ; and it continued until the 
successful enactment of this year. 

Congress passed one of the most effective anti-polygaray laws 
yet recorded on the statute book. It disfranchised and rendered 
ineligible to office all polygamists. Senator Edmunds, of Ver- 
mont, fathered the measure, and it was named after him. 

In March there was a great overflow of the Mississippi River 
and its tributaries, causing the loss of many lives and the 
destruction of an immense amount of property. According to 
a report made to the Secretary of War, eighty -five thousand 
persons were rendered destitute by the floods. 

On the 18th of June, a cyclone passed over the town of 
Grinnell, Iowa, and destroyed half the town and killed more 
than one huntlred persons. 
1883 The East River bridge between New York and Brooklyn 
was opened for travel May 34th. The general plan of this 
structure included a massive stone tower, 276 feet and 9 inches 
high, on each shore, and perforated for the roadways by two 
tall, narrow arches beginning 119 feet up from the water ; four 
steel wire cables, 16 inches in diameter, securely fastened in a 
mass of masonry 930 feet back from the water's edge on the 
New York side, stretching up over the top of the tower across 
the river to the other tower, and then down to another anchor- 
age 930 feet away, in Brooklyn, and a series of stout steel 
bands, or " suspenders," each capable of holding up one hun- 
dred tons, attached to the cables and hanging down to support 
the framework of the bridge. The main span is 1595 feet 6 
inches long ; the two land spans each 930 feet ; the masonry 
viaduct, or approach, on the Brooklyn side, 971 feet, and the 
New York approach 1562, making a total of about six thou- 
sand feet. The approaches are about one hundred feet wide, 
but the bridge proper is only eighty-five feet. It is divided 
lengthwise into five passage-ways, the outermost for teams, the 
next two for cars propelled by cables, and the innermost for 
foot passengers. From the ends to the centre the stnicture 
rises in a gentle curve, and the middle of the bridge is one hun- 
dred and thirty-five feet above water in summer, and, owing to 
tlie contraction from cold, one hundred and thirty -eight in 
v.'inter. This enables most large ships to pass under without 
lowering their topmasts. The bridge was designed by John A. 
Roebling, of Trenton, N. J., builder of the first suspension 
bridge at Niagara, and many others elsewhere ; but he died of 
lockjaw in 1869, and his son, Washington A. Roebling, suc- 
ceeded him as chief engineer, and, being familiar with his 
^'ather's work, was able to carry the work to completion, 
ji.lthough he, too, vas partially disabled in 1872 by certain 
labor connected with the enterprise. The bridge sclieme was 



252 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



incorporated by an act of the New York Legislature in 1867, 
and Congress, as was necessary, formally approved this bridg- 
ing of navigable waters, to which there was some objection in 
maritime circles. It was at tirst intended to make the bridge 
the work and properly of a stock company, in which the cities 
of New York and Brooklyn might be shareholders, but after- 
wards it was put in charge of a joint board of municipal 
othcers from the two cities, and the money was contributed, 
one-third by New York and two thirds by Brooklyn. The first 
estimate of the total cost was seven millions of dollars, but before 
it was finished nearly or quite sixteen millions of dollars were ex- 
pended. Operations began January 3, 1870, by the sinking 
of a huge caisson or coffer-dam of wood in the water on the 
site of the future Brooklyn tower. This was water-tight, and 
workmen inside of it excavated the earth until the caisson 
reached bed rock, forty-five feet below the river bed. Then the 
crib-work was filled with broken stone and concrete to form the 
foundation of the tower. When this was effected, a similar 
caisson was sunk on the New York side. The towers having 
been completed in 1876, preparations were begun for stretching 
the cables. These, if made beforehand, would have been too 
heavy to lift into place, and so they were formed by taking one 
strand at a time across and binding them together. Each of the 
four cables contained 5296 steel wires, Ijing perfectly straight, 
not twisted. The first wire was stretched from tower to tower 
August 14, 1876. A sailor's chair was then rigged, and in 
this, by the wire, E. F. Farrington, master mechanic, crossed 
the river in mid air eleven days later. Cable-building, however, 
did not fairly begin until the summer of 1877, and it was ended 
in October, 1878. A slender foot-bridge was thrown across the 
river suspended from the cables, to facilitate work, and at that 
dizzy height a number of venturesome people crossed East 
River before the main bridge was completed. The weight of 
each tower above the caisson is 93,000 tons. The cables, sus- 
penders, truss work, and bed of the bridge weigh 14,684 tons. 
During the work of construction twenty persons were killed in 
one way or another. One of the oddest accidents was the escape 
of one of the strands from the New York anchorage while the 
men were building cables. The weight of^it between the towers 
drew the end quickly over the New York tower, and it fell into 
the river. Two men were killed and three injured by its lash. 
The opening formalities on May 24th of this year were elab- 
orate, including civic and military processions, oratory, salutes 
by naval vessels, a general decoration of the two cities and the 
shipping in the harbor with flags, and elaborate fireworks at 
night. The bridge cars were not put in operation until a few 
weeks afterwards. At first the fares were five cents by cars and 
one cent to foot passengers, but afterwards these were reduced 
to three cents (or ten tiiskets for twenty -five cents) by cars, and 
twenty-five tickets for ten cents by the promenade. 

The rate of letter- postage was reduced to two cents, and the 
transmission of money by postal note began in September. 

Congi'ess reduced the tariff, and removed nearly all of the re- 



HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 253 

maining internal-revenue tax, except that on tobacco and 
spirits. 

The Northern Pacific Railroad was compicted August 23d, 
the last spike being driven in the presence of a large and dis- 
tinguished assemblage; many English and German capitalists 
were present as the guests of the railroad company. The line 
was opened to traffic Septeml)er 8th. From Superior City, 
Wis., near Duluth, at the headot Lake Superior, this road ex- 
tends one thousand six hundred and seventy-four miles to Wal- 
lula Junction, on the Columbia River, in Washington Territory. 
One extension was built along the south shore of Lake Supe- 
rior, with a view to connecting it eastward with lines reaching 
to the St. Mary's River and Canada. Another from Brainerd, 
Minn., was built to St. Paul and Minneapolis. From Wallula 
Junction branches were built to Kalama and Portland ; others 
Avere started towards Tacoma and Seattle on Puget Sound. 

On the 10th of January, the Newhall House, at Milwaukee, 
was destroyed by fire, involving a loss of more than one hundred 
lives. 
1884 The survivors of the Greeley party were rescued at Fort Con- 
ger, Lady Franklin Bay, in the Arctic regions, June 22d, by a 
special relief expedition under Commander Schley of the United 
Slates Navj^ and brought back, arriving at St. John's, New- 
foundland July 17th. In the summer of 1881 a party of sol- 
diers, commanded by Lieutenant W. A. Grcely was sent to this 
point by the Signal Service of the United States, to be one of 
about a dozen at various circum polar stations, established by sev- 
eral countries, for scientific observation during the next year or 
two. All of the others were eminently successful, and eventually 
returned without loss of life. The scheme contemplated an ex- 
pedition to Lady Franklin Bay in the summer of 1883 to bring 
Greely's party back, or At least leaving provisions near enough 
to his station to be readily found on his retreat southward. In- 
deed, a trip for the latter purpose only was made in 1882 by the 
Neptune, which landed a quantity of stores at Cape Sabine, 
hid them in a cache, and suitably marked the spot so that Greely 
could find it. The relief expedition, proper, in 1883, under 
command of Lieutenant E. A. Garlington, of the Cavalry Ser 
vice, comprised two vessels, the steam-whaler Proteus, which 
had taken Greely up in the first place, and the United States 
gunboat Yantic. While near Cape Sabine, and before she had 
landed many of her supplies anywhere, the Proteus was crushed 
in the ice and sunk. Garlington escaped with her crew in 
boats, and with diflSculty found his way southward to the Yan- 
tic, which was left in the rear, at Upernavik. He then returned 
to the United States, his expedition having proved a failure. 
Great anxiety was now felt for Greely's safety, and a new ex- 
pedition was fitted out, in the following spring, under the aus 
pices of the Navy Department. The steam -whalers Thetis and 
Bear were reinforced by a gift of the Arctic exploring vessel 
Alert, from the British Government. Commander Schley set sail 
trom the Brooklyn Navj' Yard with this fleet in May, and pushed 
forward with great energy. Although much ice was encoun- 



254 HISTORY OF the uxiteu states. 

tered in Baffin's Bay and Smith Sound he forced his way through. 
On the 22d of June, men were sent ashore, in the steam-launch 
of the Bear, at Brevoort Island to look for papers or other in- 
dications of Greely's whereabouts and condition. Under a pile 
of stones was a letter locating the camp, and stating that the 
party were nearly out of provisions. It was dated the pre\-ious 
October. The Bear was advanced as rapidly as possible, and 
the launch was sent out a second time that day. It succeeded 
in finding Fort Conger before evening. Only seven men, in- 
cluding Greely, were found alive, and two of them died soon 
afterward. Eighteen others were already dead , from starvat ion , 
most of them having expired within a few days of Commander 
Schley's arrival. The sufferings which they had endured in 
the last few months had been indescribable When found, the 
survivors were subsisting on soup made from sealskin boots and 
reindeer moss, with a few shrimps. Milk punch in small quan- 
tities was given to the men by the rescuing party; but as too much 
food after such a fast would endanger their lives, they were kept 
only partly satisfied for many days. Had the relief expedition 
arrived a few days later, it would have found every one dead. 

At the presidential election of this year Grover Cleveland was 
elected President, for the term beginning March 4, 1885. He 
was governor of New York State at the time, and was nominated 
by the Democrats. Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana was their 
candidate for Vice-President. The Republicans nominated 
James G. Blaine of Maine and John A. Logan of Illinois. The 
Southern issue was ignored during the campaign, the Repub- 
licans making their fight chiefly on the tariff, a repeal or re- 
duction of which was threatened by the Democrats; while the 
latter forced the reform of the civil service forward as their 
chief argument, Cleveland being an exponent of that idea. 
Enough Republicans abandoned Blaine for Cleveland to give 
the latter New York State by the slender plurality of one thou- 
.sand and forty-seven, out of over one million one hundred thou- 
sand votes; and as the result depended upon New York State, 
Cleveland was elected. He received the support of Conneoti 
cut, New Jersey, Indiana, and every Southern State, securing 
two hundred and nineteen electoral votes. Blaine had one hun- 
dred and eighty-two. 

A World's Fair was opened in New Orleans December KJlli, 
continuing nearly six months. It was to have been inaugiu-ated 
on the 1st of December, but the delay was caused by imperfcc t 
preparations; and not until well into January was the display 
fairlj' arranged. In the extent of the exhibits, especially from 
foreign countries, and in the attendance, it was not the equal ot 
the Centennial Exposition, although a noteworthy affair. TIic 
main building, however, was the largest of its kind ever erected. 
Mexico and South and Central America were well represented. 
The machinery was set in motion, through an electric button 
and wire, by President Arthur in Washington. 



